{{Short description|NZ rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Matt Vaega | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|09|07|df=y}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | height = {{convert|1.78|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|89|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Kelston Boys' High School | university = | relatives = To’o Vaega (father) <br> Cardiff Vaega (brother) | position = Centre, Wing, Fullback, Fly-half | currentclub = Mitsubishi Dynaboars | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2014–2017 | clubs1 = {{Rut|North Harbour}} | apps1 = 38 | points1 = 67 | years2 = 2015–2017 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Blues}} | apps2 = 2 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2018– | clubs3 = Mitsubishi Dynaboars | apps3 = 84 | points3 = 286 | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 2012 | repteam1 = New Zealand Schools | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | clubupdate = 21 October 2022 | repupdate = }}
'''Matt Vaega''' (born 7 September 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for {{Rut|North Harbour}} in the Mitre 10 Cup.<ref name="Matt Vaega North Harbour Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/profile/player/146/ | title=Matt Vaega North Harbour Player Profile | work=Harbour Rugby | accessdate=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_33351.html | title=Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Matt Vaega ESPN Scrum Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/240747.html | title=Matt Vaega ESPN Scrum Player Profile | work=ESPN Scrum | accessdate=12 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Blues 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=30 November 2016 | archive-date=27 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327154352/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Blues-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://theblues.co.nz/players/matt-vaega/ | title=Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile | publisher=Blues Rugby | accessdate=30 November 2016}}</ref>
==Early career==
The son of {{nrut|Samoa}}n legend To'o Vaega, he was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and attended school at Kelston Boys' High School. While there, he helped them to lift the World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan.<ref name="Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile"/>
==Senior career==
Vaega began his senior career with Auckland-based, North Harbour in 2014 scoring 2 tries in 6 appearances. Although the season was not successful for Harbour, Vaega impressed in their midfield and was retained for the following season. He played 9 times in 2015 and was then an ever present during Harbour's Championship winning season in 2016, scoring 4 tries in the process.<ref name="Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/>
==Super Rugby==
Impressive form at provincial level was rewarded when after only 6 senior appearances, he was surprisingly included in the {{Rut|Blues}} wider training group for the 2015 Super Rugby season.<ref name="Blues 2015 Squad Naming">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2015_ISR/2015_ISR_Squad_Naming_BluesF02.pdf | title=Blues 2015 Squad Naming | work=All Blacks.com | accessdate=12 December 2014 | archive-date=9 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209154717/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2015_ISR/2015_ISR_Squad_Naming_BluesF02.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> He debuted against the {{rut|Crusaders}} and made a total of 3 appearances during the campaign including 1 start and also scored his first try at Super Rugby level.<ref name="Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/>
New head coach Tana Umaga dropped him from the squad for 2016 Super Rugby season, however a mid-season injury crisis in the Blues midfield saw him called upon as an injury replacement and he made 2 appearances from the replacements bench.<ref name="Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile"/>
Outstanding performances in North Harbour's successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign in 2016 saw him earn a recall to the Blues squad for 2017.<ref name="Blues 2017 Squad Guide"/>
==International==
Vaega represented New Zealand Schools in 2012.<ref name="Matt Vaega Blues Player Profile"/><ref name="Matt Vaega All Blacks Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Schools/2241 | title=Matt Vaega All Blacks Player Profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=30 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="NZSchools team named for internationals">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | title=NZSchools team named for internationals | publisher=All Blacks.com | date=20 September 2012 | accessdate=1 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001832/http://www.allblacks.com/News/20535/nzschools-team-named-for-internationals | archive-date=19 October 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career Honours==
'''North Harbour'''
*Mitre 10 Cup Championship - 2016
==Super Rugby Statistics==
{{updated|30 November 2016}}<ref name="Matt Vaega itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:70%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !! Red |- | 2015 || {{Rut|Blues}} || 3 || 1 || 2 || 116 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | 2016 || {{Rut|Blues}} || 2 || 0 || 2 || 42 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 5 || 1 || 4 || 158 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaega, Matt}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Rugby union centres Category:North Harbour rugby union players Category:Blues (Super Rugby) players Category:Rugby union players from Auckland Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:People educated at Kelston Boys' High School Category:Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan