Mat Hocken
Encyclopedia
Mat Hocken is a former New Zealand
under 21 Rugby International player currently playing for the Brussels Barbarians
. He won 2 Blues for Cambridge University before moving to Brussels
to work in Public Affairs.
He has represented the Belgian National side three times.
After learning to play the game at such a young level Matt progressed to the New Zealand Under 21's side. Matt played in a tournament in Argentina, which was effectively the under 21 World Cup, before they had such a thing. He also played against France, Australia and South Africa. Although keen to progress further in professional rugby injury and an interest to continue to University meant that he gave up the dreams of playing for the All Blacks at a young age.
As part of his studies Matt travelled to Cambridge University where he took part in the annual Colours match against Oxford University. Of that Matt says:
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...
under 21 Rugby International player currently playing for the Brussels Barbarians
Brussels Barbarians
The Brussels Barbarians Rugby Football Club are a Rugby Union club in Belgium. The club consists of two men's teams and one women's team....
. He won 2 Blues for Cambridge University before moving to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to work in Public Affairs.
He has represented the Belgian National side three times.
Rugby History
Mat Hocken began playing rugby at age five and remembers playing in bare feet in the frosts at Timona Park in Fielding. One of his first memories was lining up to take a turn at putting my feet in a bucket of warm water to thaw them out after the game.After learning to play the game at such a young level Matt progressed to the New Zealand Under 21's side. Matt played in a tournament in Argentina, which was effectively the under 21 World Cup, before they had such a thing. He also played against France, Australia and South Africa. Although keen to progress further in professional rugby injury and an interest to continue to University meant that he gave up the dreams of playing for the All Blacks at a young age.
As part of his studies Matt travelled to Cambridge University where he took part in the annual Colours match against Oxford University. Of that Matt says:
"It was definitely the biggest game I have played in terms of intensity, expectation, atmosphere and crowd size. The build up for this one match starts 3 months beforehand, or even before that for the students that are returning. In the days before the game there are a lot traditions that you are involved in which are a great experience and then there is so much happening before and after the game that it is all a bit of a blur. Some of the rugby and the players may not have been as good as in Argentina but the tradition and passion of the Varsity match is hard to beat."
External links
- http://www.brusselsrugby.com/HOCKEN.htm Interview with Mat Hocken.