Mateaki Mafi

Last updated
Mateaki Mafi
Personal information
Full nameMateaki Fonnama'atonga Mafi
Born (1972-09-19) 19 September 1972 (age 50)
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1995–97 Warrington Wolves
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1995 Tonga
Rugby union
Position Wing
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
199?–99 Dunvant RFC
2000–0? Bridgend RFC
200?–04 Taibach RFC
Total00000
Source: [1]
Mateaki Mafi
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
(South) Pacific Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1991 Port Moresby 4x100 m relay
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1991 Port Moresby 4x400 m relay

Mateaki Fonnama'atonga Mafi, also known by the nickname of "Matti", [2] is a Tongan dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer, and sprinter. He played representative rugby union (RU) for rugby league and representative rugby league (RL) for Tonga, most notably at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, and participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics as a 200m sprinter.

Contents

Athletic career

Mafi was a 200m sprinter and as a 19-year-old represented Tonga at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He finished fifth in his heat and failed to make the quarterfinals. [3]

Rugby union career

Mafi was a rugby union player in the Tongan domestic competition. [4]

Rugby league career

Mafi switched to rugby league in 1995, joining the Warrington Wolves in England. [1] He was named in the Tongan squad for the 1995 World Cup. Along with Willie Swann and Martin Dermott, Mafi was sacked by Warrington early in the 1997 season after the club had a poor start to the season. [4]

Return to rugby union

Mafi then returned to rugby union, joining Dunvant RFC in Wales. [5] In 2000 he moved to the Bridgend RFC, [6] before finishing his career with the Taibach RFC. He retired in 2004. [7]

During his time in rugby union he represented Tonga at rugby sevens and also played for the Barbarians FC. [8]

Later years

Mafi now works as a security officer at the St Davids Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff. [2] He also shows his Neapolitan Mastiffs at dog shows, winning two awards at the 2008 Crufts. [8]

Achievements in athletics

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
1991 South Pacific Games Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 3rd4 × 100 m relay41.20 s
3rd4 × 400 m relay3:19.53 min

Related Research Articles

David Watkins is a Welsh former dual-code rugby international, having played both rugby union and rugby league football for both codes' national teams between 1963 and 1974. He captained the British and Irish Lions rugby union side, and made six appearances for the Great Britain rugby league team. With the Wales national rugby league team he played in every match of the 1975 World Cup, and with English club Salford he played more than 400 games over 12 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iestyn Harris</span> Professional RL coach & former GB & Wales international dual-code rugby footballer

Iestyn Rhys Harris, also known by the nickname of "Welsh Wizard", is a former dual-code international professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, and coach in rugby league in the 2000s and 2010s. He played representative rugby league for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for the Warrington Wolves, the Leeds Rhinos (captain) where he won the 1998 Man of Steel Award, the Bradford Bulls (captain), and Featherstone Rovers, and representative rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Blues, and has coached representative rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, the Crusaders Rugby League, the Wigan Warriors, and Salford Red Devils.

Jonathan Davies, OBE is a Welsh former rugby footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and who represented his nation in both rugby union and rugby league. A goal-kicking backline player, he played his club rugby in Wales, England and Australia. Davies has since become a television commentator for both codes and a media personality, in both the Welsh and English languages.

Adrian Michael Hadley is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached rugby union in the 1990s and 2000s. He played representative rugby union (RU) for Wales, at invitational level for the Barbarians F.C., and at club level for Cardiff RFC, and the Sale Sharks, as a wing, or centre, and representative rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Salford and Widnes, as a wing, and coached club level rugby union (RU) for Sale Sharks.

Duane Darrin Mann is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s and coached in the 2000s. A Tonga and New Zealand international representative hooker, he captained both sides. Mann played his club football for New Zealand sides Glenora, North Harbour, Auckland Warriors and Counties Manukau, as well as for English club, Warrington.

Steven Paul Fenwick is a Welsh former rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Bridgend RFC, as a centre, i.e. number 12 or 13, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Cardiff City (Bridgend) Blue Dragons, as a centre, i.e. number 3 or 4.

Anthony Clive Sullivan is a Welsh former professional dual-code international rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level in the Championship for Hull Kingston Rovers, and in the Championship, and the Super League for St. Helens, as a wing, and representative level rugby union (RU) for Wales, and at club level for Cardiff RFC, as a wing. He is the son of Wales (RL) international Clive Sullivan.

Rowland David Phillips is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league footballer.

Mark Alun Jones is a Welsh dual-code international professional rugby union and rugby league rugby player who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played representative level rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Tredegar RFC, Tredegar Ironsides RFC, Neath RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC, Pontypool RFC (2001–03), Aberavon RFC, as a flanker, i.e. number 6 or 7, or number eight, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hull F.C. and Warrington, as a prop, or second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12.

Salesi Finau is a Tongan former rugby footballer. He represented Tonga in both the rugby league and rugby union sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Ellis (rugby)</span> Wales international rugby league & union footballer

Kevin Ellis is a Welsh former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain and Wales national representative. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Bridgend RFC, Maesteg RFC, Treorchy RFC, Sale Sharks, London Irish, Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC, at representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Warrington Wolves, Workington Town, Gold Coast Chargers, Bridgend Blue Bulls and Celtic Crusaders, as a stand-off, scrum-half, or loose forward.

Phil Ford is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Rumney RFC and Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Warrington, Wigan, Bradford Northern, Leeds and Salford, as a fullback, wing or centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emlyn Jenkins</span> Welsh RL coach and former GB, England & Wales international rugby league footballer

Emlyn Jenkins was a Welsh cinema manager, trainee teacher, landlord of a public house, rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Treorchy RFC, and Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and England, and at club level for Salford, Wigan and St. Helens, Leigh, as a fullback, wing, centre, stand-off, or scrum-half, i.e. number 1, 2 or 5, 3 or 4, 6, or 7, and coached club level rugby league (RL) for Leigh and St. Helens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Shugars</span> GB & Wales international rugby league & union footballer

Francis John Shugars was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Penygraig RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, Wales and Lancashire, and at club level for Warrington, as a forward, during the era of contested scrums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ward</span> Former GB & Wales international rugby league footballer

Edward H. Ward was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Amman United RFC, Llanelli RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Wigan, Oldham and Cardiff RLFC, as a goal-kicking centre, and coached club level rugby league (RL) for Wigan.

Frank Wilson is a Welsh former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Workington Town, Warrington, Salford and Cardiff City (Bridgend) Blue Dragons, as a wing, centre or stand-off, i.e. number 2 or 5, 3 or 4, or 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glyn Turner</span> Wales dual-code international rugby footballer

Glyndwr Turner is a Welsh former rugby union footballer who played scrum-half i.e. number 9 position for Welsh club side Ebbw Vale RFC between 1966 and 1974 before turning professional to play rugby league in England. On turning professional Turner signed for Hull Kingston Rovers in 1974 playing for them until 1978, before moving to rivals Hull F.C. in 1978 where he played until he was forced to retire in 1980 due to injury, as a centre or stand-off, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 6.

Matthew Silva is a Welsh rugby union coach, who is the current coach of RGC 1404. He is a former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer, who played from the 1980s to the 2000s. In rugby union (RU), he played as a number eight, fly-half, centre, wing and fullback. In rugby league (RL), he played as a fullback, i.e. number 1.

Mafi is the name of:

Falamani Mafi is a Tongan former rugby union player. He played as lock

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Queens Arcade racers get top tips from Olympian South Wales Echo, 26 August 2009
  3. "Mateaki Mafi at sports-reference.com". sports-reference.com. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 Warrington sack three players The Independent, 18 March 1997
  5. "Welsh / Scottish League Premier Division: Dunvant Need Slade; Dunvant 22 Edinburgh Reivers 29". The Mirror at highbeam.com. 20 September 1999. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Cardiff crash to Newport". cdnedge.bbc.co.uk. 27 February 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. Conor Gogarty & Nick Machin (19 April 2016). "Former rugby star and Olympic sprinter becomes prizewinner at Crufts". Wales Online. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 Rugby player’s new Crufts success South Wales Echo, 15 March 2008