Nepia Fox-Matamua
{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Nepia Fox-Matamua
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|9|5}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| height = {{height|m=1.85}}
| weight = {{convert|108|kg|stlb}}
| relatives = Taina Fox-Matamua (brother)
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_currentposition = Flanker
| ru_position = Flanker
| amatyears1 = 2012
| amatyears2 = 2013
| amatyears3 = 2014
| amatteam1 = Auckland University
| amatteam2 = Marist
| amatteam3 = Auckland University
| ru_amupdate =
| years1 =
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| ru_clubupdate =
| provinceyears1 = 2012
| provinceyears2 = 2013
| provinceyears3 = 2014
| provinceyears4 = 2015–2017
| province1 = {{Rut|Auckland}}
| province2 = {{Rut|North Harbour}}
| province3 = {{Rut|Auckland}}
| province4 = Connacht
| provinceapps1 = 1
| provinceapps2 = 3
| provinceapps3 = 1
| provinceapps4 = 19
| provincepoints1 = 5
| provincepoints2 = 0
| provincepoints3 = 0
| provincepoints4 = 15
| ru_provinceupdate = 3 Nov 2017
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 =
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| ru_ntupdate =
| school = St Peter's College
| university = University of Auckland
}}
Nepia Fox-Matamua (born 5 September 1991) is a rugby union player from Auckland in New Zealand. He plays as a flanker, primarily at openside. Fox-Matamua has played for New Zealand Provincial Championship sides {{Rut|Auckland}} and {{Rut|North Harbour}}, and played for Irish provincial team Connacht in the Pro12 from 2015 to 2017.
Fox-Matamua is the great-grandson of famous Māori rugby player George Nēpia.{{cite web|url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Nepia-Fox-Matamua.aspx |work=Auckland Rugby (Wayback Machine) |title=Auckland ITM Cup Players: Nepia Fox-Matamua |access-date=15 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915200550/http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/players/0-Nepia-Fox-Matamua.aspx |archive-date=15 September 2015 }} Nepia, who was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, played both league and union and has been described as "New Zealand rugby's first superstar".Philippa Mein Smith, A Concise History of New Zealand, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, {{ISBN|0-521-54228-6}}, p.148
Early life
Born in Auckland, Fox-Matamua attended St Peter's College in the city, playing for the school's first fifteen in his senior years there. He then went on to play for the Auckland University's rugby team. In his youth, Fox-Matamua played Gaelic football with the Marist Rangers club, which is under the Auckland GAA. He played in midfield and at centre forward.{{cite web| url=http://www.joe.ie/sport/connacht-rugbys-new-signing-from-new-zealand-has-a-gaa-past-you-probably-dont-know-about/489800 | work=Joe.ie | title=Connacht Rugby's new signing from New Zealand has a GAA past you probably don't know about | access-date=18 September 2015}} He has also played rugby sevens.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/connacht-nepia-fox-mamuta-signing-2011890-Mar2015/ | work=The42 | title=Pat Lam's Connacht have signed a Kiwi back row ahead of next season | access-date=15 September 2015 | date=25 March 2015}}
Career
=First stint with Auckland=
Fox-Matamua joined {{Rut|Auckland}} during the 2012 ITM Cup, as an injury replacement. He made his debut with a start against Manawatu, and scored a try in 59–16 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2012-9-1/3-changes-to-starting-XV-for-Manawatu.aspx |work=Auckland Rugby (Wayback Machine) |title=3 changes to starting XV for Manawatu |access-date=15 September 2015 |date=1 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915195003/http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2012-9-1/3-changes-to-starting-XV-for-Manawatu.aspx |archive-date=15 September 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2012-9-2/Auckland-smash-Manawatu.aspx |work=Auckland Rugby (Wayback Machine) |title=Auckland smash Manawatu |access-date=15 September 2015 |date=2 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915195044/http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/News/2012-9-2/Auckland-smash-Manawatu.aspx |archive-date=15 September 2015 }}
=Season with North Harbour=
Following his experience playing with Auckland, Fox-Matamua moved to Championship side North Harbour for the 2013 ITM Cup. During his time with North Harbour, he also played with the amateur club Marist. Fox-Matamua made his debut for North Harbour against Wellington on 28 August 2013, and was substituted after 54 minutes in a 35–27 defeat.{{cite web| url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/wellington-vs-north-harbour-at-westpac-stadium-28th-aug-2013/1441/lineup | work=Ultimate Rugby | title=Wellington v North Harbour, ITM Cup 2013 – Lineup | access-date=16 September 2015 | date=28 August 2013}}{{cite web| url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/wellington-vs-north-harbour-at-westpac-stadium-28th-aug-2013/1441/commentary | work=Ultimate Rugby | title=Wellington v North Harbour, ITM Cup 2013 – Commentary | access-date=16 September 2015 | date=28 August 2013}} His next appearance came as a substitute against Otago, replacing Leigh Thompson on 53 minutes.{{cite web| url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/north-harbour-vs-otago-at-north-harbour-stadium-5th-oct-2013/1486/commentary | work=Ultimate Rugby | title=North Harbour v Otago, ITM Cup 2013 – Commentary | access-date=16 September 2015 | date=5 October 2013}} Fox-Matamua made his final appearance for North Harbour in the side's last game of the competition, replacing Viliami Fihaki against Canterbury.{{cite web| url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/north-harbour-vs-canterbury-at-north-harbour-stadium-12th-oct-2013/1493/commentary | work=Ultimate Rugby | title=North Harbour v Canterbury, ITM Cup 2013 – Commentary | access-date=16 September 2015 | date=12 October 2013}}
=Return to Auckland=
Fox-Matamua returned to Auckland in 2014, in the process rejoining his club University. He made a single appearance for the side in the 2014 ITM Cup, coming on as a substitute for Blake Gibson in the semi-final match against Taranaki.{{cite web|url=http://itmcup.co.nz/News/26197/taranaki-defeat-auckland-to-secure-final |work=ITM Cup (Wayback Machine) |title=Taranaki defeat Auckland to secure final |access-date=16 September 2015 |date=18 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916160424/http://itmcup.co.nz/News/26197/taranaki-defeat-auckland-to-secure-final |archive-date=16 September 2015 }}{{cite web| url=http://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/taranaki-vs-auckland-at-yarrow-stadium-18th-oct-2014/4034/commentary | work=Ultimate Rugby | title=Taranaki v Auckland, ITM Cup 2014 – Commentary | access-date=16 September 2015 | date=18 October 2014}} During his second stint with Auckland, Fox-Matamua won the Gallaher Shield with University.
=Move to Connacht=
It was announced in March 2015 that Fox-Matamua had signed a two-year contract with Irish provincial team Connacht, having been targeted by Connacht head coach Pat Lam. Lam had previously coached Auckland and the Blues and worked with Fox-Matamua at the former.{{cite web| url=http://www.the42.ie/connacht-nepia-fox-mamuta-signing-2011890-Mar2015/ | work=The42 | title=Pat Lam's Connacht have signed a Kiwi back row ahead of next season | access-date=18 September 2015 | date=25 March 2015}} Already at Connacht before Fox-Matamua were Jake Heenan, previously part of the Auckland academy with him, and Tom McCartney, a former teammate of his on the Auckland senior team and Fox-Matamua consulted with them prior to signing.{{cite web| url=http://www.connachtrugby.ie/getting-to-know-nepia-fox-matamua/#ConnachtNews | work=Connacht Rugby | title=Getting to Know...Nepia Fox-Matamua | access-date=18 September 2015 | date=23 July 2015}}
Fox-Matamua made his competitive debut for Connacht on 4 September 2015, starting against Newport Gwent Dragons in the 2015–16 Pro12 on the opening day of the season. He played the full 80 minutes and scored a try after a catch and drive from a lineout as Connacht won 29–23.{{cite web| url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/pro12/2015/0904/725738-connacht-v-newport/ | work=RTÉ Sport | title=Carr's late try earns Connacht opening-day victory in Pro12 | access-date=18 September 2015 | date=4 September 2015}} Fox-Matamua started the following week against Glasgow Warriors, again playing the full match and scoring a try as part of a drive by the team.{{cite web| url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/0911/727339-connacht-come-up-just-short-in-glasgow/ | work=RTÉ Sport | title=Connacht come up just short in Glasgow | access-date=18 September 2015 | date=11 September 2015}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/player_archive.php?player=124937&includeref=dynamic EPCR Profile]
- [http://www.pro12rugby.com/statzone/players.php?player=119765&includeref=dynamic Pro12 Profile]
- [http://www.ultimaterugby.com/nepia-fox-matamua Ultimate Rugby Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox-Matamua, Nepia}}
Category:Auckland rugby union players
Category:Connacht Rugby players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Ireland
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:North Harbour rugby union players