Matt Vaega

Matt Vaega (born 7 September 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for North Harbour in the Mitre 10 Cup.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Matt Vaega

Date of birth	(1994-09-07) 7 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb)
School	Kelston Boys' High School
Notable relative(s)	To’o Vaega (father) Cardiff Vaega (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Midfield Back Current team Mitsubishi Dynaboars Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–2017 North Harbour 38 (67) 2015–2017 Blues 2 (0) 2018– Mitsubishi Dynaboars 29 (107) Correct as of 21 October 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012 New Zealand Schools

Early career

The son of Samoan legend To'o Vaega, he was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and attended school at Kelston Boys' High School. While there, he helped them to lift the World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan.^[5]

Senior career

Vaega began his senior career with Auckland-based, North Harbour in 2014 scoring 2 tries in 6 appearances. Although the season was not successful for Harbour, Vaega impressed in their midfield and was retained for the following season. He played 9 times in 2015 and was then an ever present during Harbour's Championship winning season in 2016, scoring 4 tries in the process.^[2]

Super Rugby

Impressive form at provincial level was rewarded when after only 6 senior appearances, he was surprisingly included in the Blues wider training group for the 2015 Super Rugby season.^[6] He debuted against the Crusaders and made a total of 3 appearances during the campaign including 1 start and also scored his first try at Super Rugby level.^[2]

New head coach Tana Umaga dropped him from the squad for 2016 Super Rugby season, however a mid-season injury crisis in the Blues midfield saw him called upon as an injury replacement and he made 2 appearances from the replacements bench.^[5]

Outstanding performances in North Harbour's successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign in 2016 saw him earn a recall to the Blues squad for 2017.^[4]

International

Vaega represented New Zealand Schools in 2012.^[5][7][8]

Career Honours

North Harbour

• Mitre 10 Cup Championship - 2016

Super Rugby Statistics

As of 30 November 2016^[2]

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
2015	Blues	3	1	2	116	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
2016	Blues	2	0	2	42	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total		5	1	4	158	1	0	0	0	5	0	0

References

1. "Matt Vaega North Harbour Player Profile". Harbour Rugby. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
2. "Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
3. "Matt Vaega ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
4. "Blues 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
5. "Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile". Blues Rugby. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
6. "Blues 2015 Squad Naming" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
7. "Matt Vaega All Blacks Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
8. "NZSchools team named for internationals". All Blacks.com. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2016.