Melani Matavao

Melani Matavao
Date of birth	19 November 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth	Motoʻotua, Samoa
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
School	St. Joseph's College
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Scrum-half
Senior career
Years	Team
2018	Otago
	Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years	Team
2015	Samoa U20
2017–	Samoa
	Correct as of 28 August 2023
National sevens team
Years	Team
2019–	Samoa
	Correct as of 28 August 2023

Melani Matavao (born 19 November 1995) is a Samoan professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for the Samoa national team.^[1]

Club career

Matavao has come through Samoa's PPS Super 9 competition as a key player for the Aana Chiefs.^[2] In 2018 he was given a place with Otago under World Rugby's Pacific Combine scheme,^[3]^[4] playing 7 games in the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.^[5]

In 2019 he signed for the Asia Pacific Dragons,^[6] but did not play any matches with the team.^[7]

International career

In 2015 Matavao was selected for the Samoan Under 20 side for the U20 World Championship in Italy.^[8] In 2016 he was selected for Samoa A.^[9]

He was selected for the Samoan national team in 2017,^[10] making his debut in a test against Scotland in Edinburgh.^[11] He played for Samoa in the 2018 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.^[12] He was decisive in Samoa's qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring two tries in a qualifier against Germany.^[13]

In February 2019 he was selected for the first time for the Samoa Sevens.^[14]^[15] He was then named to Samoa's Rugby World Cup squad.^[16] After the world cup, he played in the 2020 world sevens series.^[17]

Matavao was selected for the Samoan squad to the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.^[18]

References

^ "Melani Matavao". ESPN scrum.
^ "One Local Player in Samoa's Rugby World Cup Squad". August 31, 2019.
^ "Pacific Combine creates new player pathway on islands". Rugby World. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "'We just need to be more clinical'". Otago Daily Times. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Melani Matavao". New Zealand Rugby History. April 19, 2019.
^ "Hammington signs for Otago for two years". Otago Daily Times. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Asia Pacific Dragons' threat fails to materialise - at least for now". Otago Daily Times. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Matavao is the player to watch out for this weekend | Loop Samoa".
^ Sina Sevaaetasi (27 September 2016). "Samoa A squad named". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Sport: Seven new caps in Manu Samoa squad". RNZ. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Melani Matavao - Test matches". ESPN scrum.
^ "Premier 1's – New recruit Melani Matavao selected for national honours". Harbour Rugby. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Samoa step closer to Rugby World Cup qualification after routing Germany". Stuff. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Two debutants in Samoa 7s squad for Vegas, Vancouver". Fiji Times. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ Thomas Airey (17 June 2019). "Vaili and Matavao star in their first Sevens Series campaigns". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ "Sport: Manu Samoa name two new caps in RWC squad". RNZ. August 31, 2019.
^ "Matavao to make his comeback for Samoa at the LA 7s". Loop Samoa. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
^ Sanerivi, Sialai Sarafina (2022-09-07). "Manu Samoa 7's team named for R.W.C. this weekend". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

External links

Melani Matavao at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series
Melani Matavao at ESPNscrum
Melani Matavao at ItsRugby.co.uk

This biographical article relating to Samoan rugby union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Melani Matavao". ESPN scrum.

[2] "One Local Player in Samoa's Rugby World Cup Squad". August 31, 2019.

[3] "Pacific Combine creates new player pathway on islands". Rugby World. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[4] "'We just need to be more clinical'". Otago Daily Times. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[5] "Melani Matavao". New Zealand Rugby History. April 19, 2019.

[6] "Hammington signs for Otago for two years". Otago Daily Times. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[7] "Asia Pacific Dragons' threat fails to materialise - at least for now". Otago Daily Times. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[8] "Matavao is the player to watch out for this weekend | Loop Samoa".

[9] Sina Sevaaetasi (27 September 2016). "Samoa A squad named". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[10] "Sport: Seven new caps in Manu Samoa squad". RNZ. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[11] "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Melani Matavao - Test matches". ESPN scrum.

[12] "Premier 1's – New recruit Melani Matavao selected for national honours". Harbour Rugby. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[13] "Samoa step closer to Rugby World Cup qualification after routing Germany". Stuff. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[14] "Two debutants in Samoa 7s squad for Vegas, Vancouver". Fiji Times. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[15] Thomas Airey (17 June 2019). "Vaili and Matavao star in their first Sevens Series campaigns". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[16] "Sport: Manu Samoa name two new caps in RWC squad". RNZ. August 31, 2019.

[17] "Matavao to make his comeback for Samoa at the LA 7s". Loop Samoa. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

[18] Sanerivi, Sialai Sarafina (2022-09-07). "Manu Samoa 7's team named for R.W.C. this weekend". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

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v t e Moana Pasifika – current squad
Forwards	Suetena Asomua Donald Brighouse Allan Craig Michael Curry Miracle Faiʻilagi Ivan Fepuleai Solomone Funaki Sione Havili Talitui Lotu Inisi Niko Jones Sekope Kepu Tevita Langi Sateki Latu James Lay Sione Mafileo Tomasi Maka Sama Malolo Sam Moli Alamanda Motuga Viliami Napa'a Jacob Norris Semisi Paea Irie Papuni Abraham Pole Tom Savage Sam Slade Ofa Tauatevalu Ola Tauelangi
Backs	Nigel Ah Wong Ere Enari Viliami Fine Neria Fomai Aisea Halo William Havili Fine Inisi Lalomilo Lalomilo Christian Leali'ifano D'Angelo Leuila Melani Matavao Otumaka Mausia Siaosi Nginingini Pepesana Patafilo Julian Savea Henry Taefu Jonathan Taumateine Kyren Taumoefolau Danny Toala Anzelo Tuitavuki
Coach	Tana Umaga

v t e Samoa squad – 2019 Rugby World Cup
Forwards	Alaalatoa Alo-Emile Amosa Faʻasalele Ioane J. Lam S. Lam Ja. Lay Jo. Lay Le'aupepe Matu'u Mulipola Niuia Paulo Toleafoa Tyrell Vui (c)
Backs	Alatimu Cowley (Replaced Malolua) Fidow Fonotia Lee-Lo Leiua Malolua (Ruled out by injury) Matavao Nanai-Williams Pisi Polataivao Seuteni Taefu Tuala Tuatagaloa
Head Coach: Jackson; Assistant Coaches: Afeaki, Latham

v t e Samoa squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup
Forwards	Alaalatoa (c) Alainu'uese Alo-Emile Fa'aso'o Faiʻilagi Faumuina S. Lam Ja. Lay Jo. Lay Lee Luatua Malolo McFarland Motuga Niuia (replaced Tolai) Seu Slade Taufua Tolai Vui (c)
Backs	Ah Wong Enari Fidow Fomai B. Lam Leali'ifano Leuila Manu Matavao Paia'aua Seuteni Sopoaga Taumateine Toala
Head Coach: Seilala Mapusua