Matatū

Matatū is a New Zealand women's professional rugby union team that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Matatū represents the South Island, specifically the regions covered by the Crusaders and the Highlanders. They are governed by the Crusaders.^[1] They were crowned champions of the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Matatū

Union	New Zealand Rugby
Founded	2021
Location	Christchurch, New Zealand
Region	Tasman Canterbury Otago
Coach(es)	Whitney Hansen
Captain(s)	Alana Bremner
League(s)	Super Rugby Aupiki
Official website
www.matatu.co.nz

History

Name, logo and colours

The team’s name, logo and colours were officially unveiled on 12 October 2021. The name, logo and colours were created by a local artist and designer Morgan Mathews-Hale in partnership with Te Whaka Ako Limited. Matatū is a name gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, which is one of five primary hapū of the Ngai Tahu iwi.^[2]

The name Matatū, literally meaning "alert or vigilant", has been gifted to symbolise the teams tūmanawa (determined sacrifice), tūaho (legacy), tūhono (connections) and tūtira (unity) in representing Te Waka o Aoraki (the South Island).^[3]

Coaching staff

Blair Baxter was announced as Head Coach, Whitney Hansen and Tony Christie were appointed as the two assistant coaches.^[4] Whitney Hansen was named as Matatū's Head coach for the 2024 season.^[5]

Inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season

Matatū played their first game against the Chiefs Manawa in a pre-season match ahead of the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season at the Owen Delany Park in Taupō. Liv McGoverne kicked the teams first-ever points and Julia Gorinski scored their first try. Chiefs Manawa won the match 28–20.^[6][7] Matatū and Chiefs Manawa met five days later to play the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki match on 10 March 2022. It was a historical moment for Matatū as this was their first team to take the field. It was a tense match but Chiefs Manawa edged Matatū 17–15 to win the second match between the teams.^[8][9][10]

Matatū next played the Blues Women in round 2 of the competition, they lost the game 10–21.^[11][12] In the final round they faced Hurricanes Poua at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, they were defeated 8–16 and finished last overall.^[13][14][15]

2023

Matatū recorded their first Super Rugby Aupiki win after defeating Blues Women 33–31 in the opening round of the competition.^[16][17] They met the Blues side again in the semi-finals and just beat them by three points, the final score was 26–23.^[18][19] They claimed their first title after defeating Chiefs Manawa 33–31 in the Grand final at the FMG Stadium Waikato.^[20][21]

Current squad

On 21 November 2022, the squad for the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season was announced.^[22]

Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki squad
Props   Amy Rule   Pip Love   Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox   Ashley Palu   Eilis Doyle Hookers   Atlanta Lolohea   Georgia Ponsonby   Natalie Delamere Locks   Cindy Nelles   Emma Dermody   Sera Naiqama	Loose forwards   Alana Bremner (c)   Kendra Reynolds (vc)   Lucy Jenkins   Marcelle Parkes   Leah Miles Inside backs   Di Hiini   Georgia Cormick   Rosie Kelly   Te Rauoriwa Gapper	Midfielders (centres)   Amy du Plessis   Charntay Poko   Grace Steinmetz Outside backs   Cheyenne Cunningham   Grace Brooker   Martha Mataele   Renee Holmes   Chey Robins-Reti
(cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, ^SP denotes a shadow player^[further explanation needed] and ^ST indicated short-term cover.

Coaching staff

• Head Coach: Whitney Hansen
• Assistant Coach: Jessie Hansen (Mental Skills Coach)
• Assistant Coach: Nic Groube (Strength and Conditioning Coach)
• Video Analyst: Carlito Shalfoon
• Physio: Jen Croker
• Team Doctor: Anika Tiplady

Captain

Captain	Years
Alana Bremner	2022 – present

Coach

Matatū coaches by date, matches and win percentage*

Coach	Period	G	W	D	L	%
Blair Baxter	2022–2023	8	3	0	5	37.5%
Whitney Hansen	2024–	0	0	0	0	00.0%
Totals (2022–present)^*		8	3	0	5	37.5%
Updated to: 13 December 2023

Notes:

^* Official Super Rugby Aupiki competition matches only, including finals.

References

1. "MATATŪ". thehighlanders.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
2. "Matatū to represent the South Island in Super Rugby Aupiki". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
3. "Our Story - Matatū Rugby". Matatū. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
4. "Blair Baxter appointed Head Coach of new South Island Women's team for Super Rugby Aupiki". crusaders.co.nz. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
5. "Whitney Hansen appointed Matatū Head Coach for 2024". Matatū. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
6. "Matatū team named for pre-season clash with Chiefs Manawa". superrugby.co.nz. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
7. "Chiefs Manawa hold on to defeat Matatū in pre-season hit-out". superrugby.co.nz. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
8. "Matatū team announced for inaugural Sky Super Rugby Aupiki clash". superrugby.co.nz. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
9. "PREVIEW: Chiefs Manawa v Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
10. Burnes, Campbell (10 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa edge Matatū in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki opener". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
11. "Matatū side named to face nib Blues in Hamilton". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
12. Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
13. Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Leti-I'iga brace sees Hurricanes Poua home". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
14. Pearson, Joseph (20 March 2022). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Ayesha Leti-I'iga inspires Hurricanes Poua to first win against Matatū". Stuff. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
15. Reive, Christopher (20 March 2022). "Hurricanes Poua claim first Super Rugby win". NZ Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
16. "Matatū hold off Blues for first-ever Super Rugby Aupiki win". 1 News. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
17. Wall, Jamie (25 February 2023). "Matatū pip Blues Women in outstanding performance". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
18. "INTO THE FINALS! Match Report v Blues". Matatū. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
19. Wall, Jamie (19 March 2023). "Robins-Reti the heroine in Matatū semi final triumph". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
20. Chapman, Grant (25 March 2023). "Super Rugby Aupiki: Matatū shock defending champions Chiefs Manawa to snatch women's crown". Newshub. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
21. Reive, Christopher (25 March 2023). "Matatū win Aupiki final in dramatic fashion". NZ Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
22. "2023 Matatū Squad Announced". Matatū. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

External links

• Official website