Big two days for Matatū women’s rugby side

The Tasman Rugby Union is making sure the wider community can connect with the Matatū team ahead of its first ever match in Nelson this week.

The public are being encouraged to welcome the Super Rugby Aupiki side, which represents the Crusaders and the Highlanders, when it flies in at 9.30am this Friday.

Broadgreen Intermediate pupils will perform a Waiata at the airport. Then the women are off to a pōwhiri at the Whakatū Marae where they will be formally greeted by local iwi and union staff.

At 4pm, the unbeaten side will front up at the Tāhunanui Fields for community engagement activities.  There will be photo opportunities, autograph signings and giveaways as they watch the kids playing “Rippa rugby”.

Saturday promises to be a huge day at Trafalgar Park, starting with those players not in the match day 23 against the top of the table Blues side.

Starting at 8.45, they will play Rippa and fun games with local youngsters and then there will be a curtain raiser featuring the U13 wahine. Three halves between Nelson, Marlborough and Buller teams.

Local kapa haka groups will provide cultural demonstrations in and around the round three match, which kicks off at 2.05pm.

At half-time, there will be a kapa haka performance by two local school groups.

“This is such an exciting game for us to have in the region. It is an epic opportunity for our whole local community to experience Aupiki close up and personal with the players,” enthuses TRU Community Women’s Rugby Manager Estelle Uren.

Matatū has beaten the Chiefs Manawa 31-25 and the Hurricanes Poua 29-7 in the first two rounds, already equalling its overall results from 2024 which was the third year of  Super Rugby Aupiki.

There are three Tasman Mako women in the Matatū squad, forwards Jett Hayward, Fiaali’i Solomona and Sarah Jones. Tickets to see Matatū can be purchased at matatu.co.nz/drawandtickets