Manasa Mataele
| Full name | Manasa Moala Mataele | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 November 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Suva, Fiji | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||
| School | Marist Brothers High School | ||
| University | Western Institute of Technology | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Seta Tamanivalu (uncle) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Wing | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2016 | Taranaki | 6 | 5 |
| correct as of 3 November 2016. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2017 | Crusaders | ||
| correct as of 3 November 2014. | |||
Manasa Moala Mataele (born 27 November 1996 in Suva, Fiji), is a professional rugby union player. He plays for Taranaki in the Mitre10 Cup. He was signed by the Crusaders in 2016 and will play for them in the 2017 Super Rugby season. Mataele plays predominantly as a winger.
Career
Mataele was born in Suva. He attended Marist Brothers High School in Suva. It's a school known for creating athletes in sprinting. In 2010, he took part for them in the Junior Boys Boys Long Jump in the Coke Light Games and he won a silver medal with a jump of 5.87m.[1] In 2011, he won silver again in the same category jumping 6.00m.[2] In 2013, he took part in 2 events including the Boys Long Jump Intermediate division where he again won a silver medal jumping 6.70m. He was also part of the Intermediate 4x100 metre relay team that won gold. His school was up against Queen Victoria School who had the services of Sevuloni Reece, a winger that plays for Waikato in the Mitre10 Cup.[3]
He also represented Marist in rugby. In July 2014, he represented Marist in the Southern Zone Secondary Schools rugby competition. He played at centre and scored a try in the under-18 final helping Marist to win the title. He also scooped the man of the match award. [4] He was selected in the Fiji u18 side for the Tri Nations matches against Australia and NZ u18 sides. He scored 2 tries in their 50-15 loss to Australia.[5] His performance for the team saw him getting invited by the Taranaki Rugby Academy to join them as a development player and he played in their sevens and Under-19 teams.
In September 2015, he helped Taranaki beat defending champions, Wellington in the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under-19 tournament. He scored two-tries in that game.[6]
In August 2016, he was a surprise inclusion in the Taranaki team named for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup.[7]
Later in that month, he made his debut against Hawke's Bay scoring a sensational 50m try in their 55-28 win. He played alongside his uncle, Seta Tamanivalu who as a youngster, lived with Mataele's family as Tamanivalu's family were from the west (Lautoka) and he studied at Lelean Memorial School which was based in Suva.[8]
In November 2016, he was signed by the Crusaders and he would join his uncle, Tamanivalu and fijian winger, Jone Macilai-Tori at the club for the 2017 Super Rugby season.[9]
Personal life
While staying in New Zealand, he did a Diploma in Building Construction and Architectural Technology at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki. His favorite player growing up was Joe Rokocoko.[10]
References
- ↑ "2010 Coca Cola Light Games". Oceania Athletics. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "2011 Coca Cola Light Games" (PDF). Oceania Athletics. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "2011 Coca Cola Light Games" (PDF). Oceania Athletics. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "Marist wins title - Fiji Times Online". fijitimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ "Fiji U18 beaten". Fiji One. 2014-09-27. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ allblacks.com. "Taranaki rock Wellington at Hobbs Memorial". All Blacks. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ "Power Packed Backline A Feature Of Taranaki Mitre 10 Cup Squad". Rugby News. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ "Teenage wing Manasa Mataele delighted to be with Uncle Seta". Stuff. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ "Wing joins uncle at Crusaders". Stuff. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ↑ "Manasa Moala- Mataele | Taranaki Rugby". Festival of Lights. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
Joe Rokocoko