Hawea Mataira

{{Short description|NZ dual-code rugby international footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Hawea Mataira

|fullname = Hawea Karepa Mataira

|nickname =

|image = File:Hawea Mataira.png

|image_size =

|caption =

|country =

|position = {{rlp|PR}}

|birth_date = {{birth date|1910|12|3|df=y}}

|birth_place = Nūhaka, New Zealand

|death_date = {{death date and age|1979|11|15|1910|12|3|df=y}}

|death_place = Wairoa, New Zealand

|height = {{height|m=1.8}}

|weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|first = RU

|ru_position = Loose forward

|ru_club1 = Hawke's Bay

|ru_year1start = 1932

|ru_year1end = 36

|ru_appearances1 = 35

|ru_tries1 =

|ru_goals1 =

|ru_fieldgoals1 =

|ru_points1 =

|ru_teamA = New Zealand Māori

|ru_yearAstart =

|ru_yearAend =

|ru_appearancesA =

|ru_triesA =

|ru_goalsA =

|ru_fieldgoalsA =

|ru_pointsA =

|ru_teamB = New Zealand

|ru_yearBstart = 1934

|ru_yearBend =

|ru_appearancesB = 1

|ru_triesB = 0

|ru_goalsB = 0

|ru_fieldgoalsB = 0

|ru_pointsB = 0

|club1 = City Rovers

|year1start = 1937

|year1end = 41

|appearances1 =

|tries1 = 9

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 27

|club2 = City-Ōtāhuhu

|year2start = 1942

|year2end =

|appearances2 =

|tries2 = 3

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 9

|club3 = City Rovers

|year3start = 1943

|year3end = 44

|appearances3 =

|tries3 = 8

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 24

|teamA = Auckland Māori (Tamaki)

|yearAstart = 1937

|yearAend = 44

|appearancesA = 10

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 0

|teamB = New Zealand

|yearBstart = 1939

|yearBend =

|appearancesB = 1

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|teamC = Auckland

|yearCstart = 1941

|yearCend = 43

|appearancesC = 3

|triesC = 2

|goalsC = 0

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 6

|updated =

|source = [http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/player/4223.html Scrum.com]

|new = yes

}}

Hawea Karepa Mataira (3 December 1910 – 15 November 1979) was a dual-code rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.

Rugby union career

Mataira made his first class debut in 1931 and in 1932 made his debut for Hawke's Bay. He went on to play 35 first class matches for Hawke's Bay between 1932 and 1936.[http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=539 Hawea Mataira] allblacks.com

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, Bernard Edward 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 Auckland and joining the City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition. Mataira later joined the Manukau club.[http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=367 Manukau Rugby League and Sports Club Inc] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720073821/http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=367 |date=20 July 2011}} aucklandleague.co.nz He was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team 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.