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Matatū

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Matatū
Image
UnionNew Zealand Rugby
Founded2021; 5 years ago (2021)
LocationChristchurch, New Zealand
RegionTasman
Canterbury
Otago
CoachBlair Baxter
CaptainGrace Brooker
Most appearancesAmy du Plessis (27)
Top scorerHannah King (93)
Most triesKaipo Olsen-Baker (13)
LeagueSuper Rugby Aupiki
2026Runners-up
Official website
www.matatu.co.nz

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.[1] They were crowned the champions of the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[2]

History

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Name, logo and colours

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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.[1]

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]

Inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season

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2022

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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. The Chiefs Manawa won the match 28–20.[4][5] Matatū and the 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 the Chiefs Manawa edged Matatū 17–15 to win the second match between the teams.[6][7][8]

Matatū next played the Blues Women in round 2 of the competition, but lost the game 10–21.[9][10] In the final round, they faced the Hurricanes Poua at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, and were defeated 8–16 to finish last overall.[11][12][13]

2023

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Matatū recorded their first Super Rugby Aupiki win after defeating the Blues Women 33–31 in the opening round of the competition.[14][15] In round 2 and 3, they lost to the Hurricanes Poua 24–25 and the Chiefs Manawa 38–46.[16][17] They met the Blues again, but this time in the semi-finals. They defeated them 26–23.[18][19] They claimed their first title after defeating the Chiefs Manawa 33–31 in the Grand final in Hamilton at FMG Stadium Waikato.[20][2]

2024

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Matatū's 2024 title defense started off with a 17–24 loss to the Blues Women in Invercargill.[21] It was followed by two more defeats to the Hurricanes Poua 29–36 in Wellington and Chiefs Manawa 22–38 in Hamilton.[22][23] They lost again to the eventual champions Blues Women in Auckland 17–27,[24][25] before defeating the Hurricanes Poua 37–17, and Chiefs Manawa 22–20 in both rematches.[26][27]

2025

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In 2025, Matatū defeated the Chiefs Manawa (31–25) in Hamilton to kickstart their campaign.[28] They then went on to defeat the Hurricanes Poua with a (29–7) bonus point victory in Christchurch.[29] Matatū suffered their first loss of the season with a (7–28) defeat to the defending champions Blues Women in Nelson.[30] They defeated the Hurricanes Poua again with a (43–24) win in Wellington.[31] They defeated the Blues Women (37–29) in Whangārei to hand them their first loss of the season.[32] Matatū were defeated by the Chiefs Manawa (22–28) in Christchurch in the last game of the regular season.[33] Matatū were defeated by the Blues Women (19–26) in the Final at Eden Park in Auckland.[34]

Overall record

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Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki matches
Coach Period G W L D P%
Image Blues Women 2022– 8 3 5 0 38%
Image Chiefs Manawa 2022– 7 3 4 0 43%
Image Hurricanes Poua 2022– 6 3 3 0 50%
(2022–present)* 21912043%
Updated to: 12 April 2025

Notes:

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

Season standings

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A summary of Matatu's results in the regular season is shown below:

Season Pos Pld W L D F A +/- BP Pts Notes
20224th30303156-2511Finished 4th overall
20232nd312095102-715Defeated the Chiefs Manawa in the final
20243rd6240144162-18311Finished 3rd overall
20252nd6420169141+28219Lost to the Blues Women in the final
2026 1st 6 4 2 0 198 157 +41 3 19 Lost to the Blues Women in the final

Current squad

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The Matatū squad for the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki season is:

2026 Matatū squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) denotes the team captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
  1. ↑ Ponsonby wasn't named in the original Matatū squad, but was announced in the side for Round 6.[35]
  2. ↑ Kerr wasn't named in the original Matatū squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[36]
  3. ↑ Poko wasn't named in the original Matatū squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[36]
  4. ↑ Muamua wasn't named in the original Matatū squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[36]
Source: [37]

Coaching staff

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In 2021, Blair Baxter was announced as Matatū's inaugural Head Coach, with Whitney Hansen and Tony Christie appointed as the two assistant coaches.[38] Baxter stepped down from the role after the 2023 season.[39] Whitney Hansen was named as Matatū's Head coach for the 2024 season.[40] After Hansen was appointed as Head Coach of the Black Ferns in December 2025, Baxter was once again announced as Matatū's Head Coach for the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki season.[41][42]

  • Head Coach: Blair Baxter
  • Assistant Coach: Simon Kneebone
  • Assistant Coach: Jason Kjestrup

Captain

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Captain Years
New Zealand Alana Bremner 2022–2025 [43]
New Zealand Grace Brooker 2026 [44]

Coaching record

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Matatū coaches by date, matches and win percentage*
Coach Period G W L D %
Image Blair Baxter 2022–2023 8 3 5 0 38%
Image Whitney Hansen 2024–2025 12 6 7 0 46%
Image Blair Baxter 2026– 0 0 0 0 0%
Totals (2022–present)* 21912043%
Updated to: 12 April 2025

Notes:

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

References

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  1. 1 2 "South Island Women's team ready to face the challenge of Super Rugby Aupiki with unveiling of unique identity". matatu.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Reive, Christopher (25 March 2023). "Matatū win Aupiki final in dramatic fashion". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Our Story - Matatū Rugby". Matatū. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Matatū team named for pre-season clash with Chiefs Manawa". superrugby.co.nz. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Chiefs Manawa hold on to defeat Matatū in pre-season hit-out". superrugby.co.nz. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Matatū team announced for inaugural Sky Super Rugby Aupiki clash". superrugby.co.nz. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "PREVIEW: Chiefs Manawa v Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (10 March 2022). "Chiefs Manawa edge Matatū in Sky Super Rugby Aupiki opener". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Matatū side named to face nib Blues in Hamilton". superrugby.co.nz. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (15 March 2022). "Blues full of merit in downing Matatū". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  11. ↑ Burnes, Campbell (20 March 2022). "Leti-I'iga brace sees Hurricanes Poua home". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Reive, Christopher (20 March 2022). "Hurricanes Poua claim first Super Rugby win". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Matatū hold off Blues for first-ever Super Rugby Aupiki win". 1 News. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  15. ↑ Wall, Jamie (25 February 2023). "Matatū pip Blues Women in outstanding performance". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Hurricanes Poua beat Matatū in one-point thriller for first victory of Super Rugby Aupiki". stuff.co.nz. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Chiefs Manawa too strong for determined Matatū". odt.co.nz. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 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. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "Super Rugby: Blues Women get win over Matatu in Invercargill". NZ Herald. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Hurricanes Poua v Matatū result: Hurricanes Poua edge Matatū in high-scoring encounter". NZ Herald. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  23. ↑ "Chiefs Manawa v Matatū result: Luka Connor hat-trick lifts Chiefs Manawa to third Super Rugby Aupiki win". NZ Herald. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Blues Women v Matatū live updates: Super Rugby Aupiki round four". NZ Herald. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  25. ↑ "Recap: Blues stun Chiefs Manawa to win Super Rugby Aupiki final". stuff.co.nz. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Matatū finally switch on to convincingly beat Hurricanes Poua". odt.co.nz. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "Recap: Matatū v Chiefs Manawa". stuff.co.nz. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "Match Report: Round 1 v Chiefs Manawa". matatu.co.nz. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  29. ↑ "Matatū too strong for the Poua". matatu.co.nz. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  30. ↑ "Match Report: Round 3 v nib Blues". matatu.co.nz. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  31. ↑ "Match Report: Round 4 v Hurricanes Poua". matatu.co.nz. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  32. ↑ "Match Report: Matatū win in Whangārei". matatu.co.nz. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  33. ↑ "Match Report: Round 6 v Chiefs Manawa". matatu.co.nz. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  34. ↑ "Match Report: Grand Final v Blues". matatu.co.nz. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  35. ↑ "Round 6 Team Naming: A home final within reach as Matatū name side for last round robin match". Matatū (Press release). 16 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 "Matatū name side for 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki opener". Matatū (Press release). 11 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "A new wave of talent joins a strong returning core for Matatū in 2026". Matatū (Press release). 9 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "Blair Baxter Named As Head Coach". Matatū. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  39. ↑ "Blair Baxter Accepts International Job". Matatū. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  40. ↑ "Whitney Hansen Named Matatū Head Coach for 2024". Matatū. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Blair Baxter to lead Matatū as Head Coach for 2026". Matatū (Press release). 4 February 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "'I never really left' Blair Baxter on his deep connection to Matatū". Matatū. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Matatū announces first ever Captains". Matatū (Press release). 21 February 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "Grace Brooker named 2026 Matatū Captain". Matatū (Press release). 31 March 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
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