Waate Potaka

Waate "Pat" Pene Potaka (c.1903 – 3 November 1967)[1][2][3] was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the All Blacks in 1923 and the Māori All Blacks between 1922 and 1927. He was regarded as a utility back, as he played in every back position throughout his career.

Waate Potaka
Birth nameWaate Pene Potaka
Date of birthc. 1903
Place of birthTaihape, New Zealand
Date of death3 November 1967
Place of deathTaihape, New Zealand
SchoolTe Aute College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back
All Black No. 268
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1918, 20, 23, 25–26

1930
1931		 Rata

Aotea
Ratana		 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1918, 20, 23, 25–26, 30–31 Wanganui 25 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1923

1922–23, 1926–27		 New Zealand
Māori All Blacks		 2

50		 (3)

Although his birth name was Waate, Potaka was generally known as Pat.[4][5]

He was born in Taihape, but was educated at Te Aute College in the Hawke's Bay region.[4]

Career

Provincial

He initially played as a halfback, but soon found himself playing as a fly half and fullback.[4]

For the majority of his career Potaka played for the Rata club. He had stints at the Aotea and Ratana clubs towards the end of his career.[5]

He totalled 25 games for the Wanganui union.[4]

All Blacks

After playing in the 1923 North against South Island match, Potaka gained his only two appearances for the All Blacks, both of which were against New South Wales. The first was played in Dunedin and the second in Christchurch where he came on as a substitute onto the wing and then scored a try.[4][5]

The next year in 1924 Potaka trialled to be selected for the team that would go on to be nicknamed The Invincibles. He was not selected.[4]

Māori All Blacks

Potaka first played for the Māori All Blacks in 1922.[4]

He was selected for the 1926–27 tour of New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Europe and Canada.[5] He played in 18 matches on the great tour. Potaka mainly played in the centre position on the tour, but at times was used at fullback and five-eighths.[4]

His total number of games for the Māori All Blacks was 50.[4]

References
  1. "the 1,109 New Zealand ALL BLACKS from 1884 - NATHAN to YOUNG :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy". www.familytreecircles.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  2. "PECK of Taita - Family Tree". ngairedith.tribalpages.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. "Waate Pene Potaka". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. p. 135. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
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