Mateaki Mafi

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.

Mateaki Mafi
Personal information
Full nameMateaki Fonnama'atonga Mafi
Born (1972-09-19) 19 September 1972
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–97 Warrington Wolves
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995 Tonga
Rugby union
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
199?–99 Dunvant RFC
2000–0? Bridgend RFC
200?–04 Taibach RFC
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
Mateaki Mafi
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Tonga
(South) Pacific Games
1991 Port Moresby4x100 m relay
1991 Port Moresby4x400 m relay

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.

During his time in rugby union he represented Tonga at rugby sevens and also played for the Barbarians FC.[7]

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.[7]

Achievements in athletics
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  Tonga
1991 South Pacific Games Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 3rd 4 × 100 m relay 41.20 s
3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:19.53 min

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  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. 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. Rugby player’s new Crufts success South Wales Echo, 15 March 2008
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