Caleb Makene

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Caleb Makene

| image =

| fullname = Caleb Lydon Makene

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|4|20}}

| birth_place = Napier, New Zealand

| height = {{convert|1.79|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|86|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| nickname =

| occupation =

| school = Napier Boys' High School

| university = Lincoln University

| relatives =

| position = Fullback, Wing, First five-eighth

| currentclub = Utah Warriors

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2016

| clubs1 = {{rut|Tasman}}

| apps1 = 9

| points1 = 10

| years2 = 2017–2018

| clubs2 = {{rut|Canterbury}}

| apps2 = 14

| points2 = 25

| years3 = 2019–2023

| clubs3 = {{rut|Hawke's Bay}}

| apps3 = 46

| points3 = 96

| years4 = 2018

| clubs4 = {{rut|Crusaders}}

| apps4 = 1

| points4 = 0

| years5 = 2021

| clubs5 = {{rut|Highlanders}}

| apps5 = 1

| points5 = 0

| years6 = 2022–

| clubs6 = Utah Warriors

| apps6 = 44

| points6 = 98

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 =

| amatcaps1 =

| amatpoints1 =

| repyears1 = 2016

| repteam1 = New Zealand U20

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 30

| repyears2 =

| repteam2 =

| repcaps2 =

| reppoints2 =

| clubupdate = 1 August 2024

| repupdate = 12 November 2016

}}

Caleb Makene (born 20 April 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back or fly-half for Utah Warriors in the Major League Rugby (MLR). In New Zealand, he most recently played for {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} in the National Provincial Championship competition{{cite web | url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/130396 | title=2023 Magpies squad release | website=Hawke's Bay Rugby Union | language=en | date=5 July 2023 | access-date=6 July 2023}}

Senior career

Born and raised in Napier, Makene attended and played rugby for Napier Boys' High School, captaining their first XV in 2014. After graduating high school, he headed south to attend Lincoln University in Christchurch and study environmental planning and management. While there, he was signed up by the {{rut|Crusaders}} Academy and after 2 years in the Crusaders and Canterbury rugby structures, he was loaned to the Tasman Mako for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.makos.co.nz/news/rookie-winger-caleb-makene-hoping-to-take-his-chances | title=Rookie winger Caleb Makene hoping to take his chances | publisher=Tasman Mako | date = 21 September 2016 | accessdate=12 November 2016}} Two tries in nine appearances for the Mako helped them reach the final of the 2016 Premiership, in which ironically they were defeated by Makene's parent province, Canterbury.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_37790.html | title=Caleb Makene itsrugby Player Statistics | publisher=it's rugby | accessdate=12 November 2016}} After two seasons playing for {{Rut|Canterbury}},{{cite web | url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/73398 | title=Six new names in Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup squad | publisher=Canterbury Rugby Union | date=8 August 2017 | accessdate=2 December 2020}}{{cite web | url=http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/66199 | title=Joe Maddock names eight new players in 2018 Canterbury squad | publisher=Canterbury Rugby Union | date=7 August 2018 | accessdate=2 December 2020| url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808104450/http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/66199 | archive-date=8 August 2018}} Makene decided in February 2019 to return home to {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} to play for the Magpies.{{cite web | url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/73398 | title=Makene to return home | publisher=Hawke's Bay Rugby Union | date=21 February 2019 | accessdate=2 December 2020}}

While not initially named in their squad for the 2021 Super Rugby season, Makene was called into the {{rut|Highlanders}} squad as cover for Vilimoni Koroi, who was training with the New Zealand Sevens team in preparation of the 2021 Olympics.{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300202965/super-rugby-highlanders-sign-star-otago-wing-freedom-vahaakolo | title=Super Rugby: Highlanders sign star Otago wing Freedom Vahaakolo | publisher=Stuff New Zealand | date=12 January 2021 | access-date=31 March 2021}} He made his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders on 2 April 2021 against the {{rut|Crusaders}}.{{cite web | url=http://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1074-speight-s-highlanders-to-play-the-crusaders-2 | title=Speight’s Highlanders to play the Crusaders | publisher=Highlanders | date=31 March 2021 | accessdate=3 April 2021 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331011628/http://thehighlanders.co.nz/media-centre/news/1074-speight-s-highlanders-to-play-the-crusaders-2 | archive-date=31 March 2021 | df=dmy-all}}

On 2 December 2021, Makene was named in the Utah Warriors squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.{{cite press release | url=https://www.warriorsrugby.com/news/warriors-announce-2022-roster/ | title=Warriors announce 2022 roster | website=Utah Warriors | date=2 December 2021 | accessdate=3 April 2021}}

International

Makene was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which competed in the 2016 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship as well as the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in England, making 5 appearances and scoring 6 tries.{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/U20/2572 | title=Caleb Makene New Zealand Under-20 Player Profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=12 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117124534/http://www.allblacks.com/Player/U20/2572 | archive-date=17 November 2016 | url-status=dead }}