Hawea Mataira
Encyclopedia
Hawea Kareha Mataira was a dual-code rugby football
player who represented New Zealand
in both rugby union and rugby league
.
. He went on to play 35 first class matches for Hawke's Bay between 1932 and 1936.
In 1934 he made his All Blacks debut on a tour of Australia. The next year he was a surprise omission from the 1935-36 tour of Great Britain. Mataira also represented New Zealand Māori
.
In 1936 Mataira became involved in a dispute with a teammate over a jersey. His teammate, E.B. Rogers was knocked down during the fight and suffered a fractured skull after striking his head as he fell. He died from his injuries. Mataira was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after it was found that Rogers had been the aggressor and Mataira had tried hard to avoid coming to blows.
and joining the City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League
competition. Mataira later joined the Manukau
club. He was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis 1939 tour of Great Britain and France but the tour was cancelled before any Test matches were played due to the outbreak of World War II
.
After the War, Mataira represented New Zealand Māori
against several touring sides.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player who represented New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in both rugby union and rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
.
Rugby union career
Mataira made his first class debut in 1931 and in 1932 made his debut for Hawke's BayHawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
. He went on to play 35 first class matches for Hawke's Bay between 1932 and 1936.
In 1934 he made his All Blacks debut on a tour of Australia. The next year he was a surprise omission from the 1935-36 tour of Great Britain. Mataira also represented New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
.
In 1936 Mataira became involved in a dispute with a teammate over a jersey. His teammate, E.B. Rogers was knocked down during the fight and suffered a fractured skull after striking his head as he fell. He died from his injuries. Mataira was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after it was found that Rogers had been the aggressor and Mataira had tried hard to avoid coming to blows.
Rugby league career
Mataira switched codes in 1937, moving to AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and joining the City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. Mataira later joined the Manukau
Manukau Magpies
The Manukau Magpies are a rugby league football club based in Manukau, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1910.-History:...
club. He was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis 1939 tour of Great Britain and France but the tour was cancelled before any Test matches were played due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the War, Mataira represented New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
against several touring sides.