Nikola Matawalu
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| Birth name | Nikola Matawalu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 8 March 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Suva, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (13 st 1 lb; 183 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Suva Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nikola Matawalu (born 8 March 1989) is a
Rugby Union career
Amateur career
While at
Matawalu was drafted to
He played one game for the 2 Scots in the 2021 Edinburgh City Sevens tournament.[2]
He played for Pontypridd RFC in Wales while studying Rugby Coaching and Analytics at the University of South Wales. He left Pontypridd on 29 March 2024 to embark on a coaching career.[3]
Professional career
Niko joined
In December 2014, it was announced that he would join
In November 2016, it was announced he had signed for Exeter Chiefs.[8] His time in Exeter was disrupted when he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in December 2016,[9] something he was cleared of in August 2017 - having already been released by the club.[10]
On 31 August 2017 Glasgow Warriors announced that they had re-signed Matawalu on a year's contract with the option of a second year.[11] Kept on, Matawalu would finally leave the club at the end of 2021-21 season, becoming a club centurion along the way. Of his time at the Warriors he said:[12]
When I first joined Glasgow Warriors in 2012 the biggest thing that stood out to me was the culture that the players created. I loved how the club had clans, traditions and customs – all like Fiji. A lot of things have changed over my years here but what makes Glasgow Warriors special hasn’t. Glasgow is my second home and I feel an immense sense of pride to have been part of this wonderful club. Every time I pulled on the Warriors jersey the most important thing for me was to enjoy every moment.
On 31 August 2021 it was announced that he had signed for French Club Montauban.[13]
International career
In May 2010 he was selected to represent Fiji in their 2010 tour to Australia.
References
- ^ "Tennent's Premiership clubs decide pro-player draft | Scottish Rugby Union". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "RUGBY: NIKO MATAWALU MAGIC AT THE EDINBURGH CITY 7s 1.8.21". YouTube.
- ^ "Niko Matawalu departs". 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Niko extends his deal with the Warriors". Glasgow Warriors. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "True Warriors emerge at Melrose Sevens".
- ^ "Matawalu and Allan to depart at end of season". 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Bath sign Fiji scrum-half Nikola Matawalu from Glasgow Warriors". Sky Sports. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "Exeter Chiefs sign Niko Matawalu from Premiership rivals Bath". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Rugby player on sex assault charge". BBC News. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ Clark, Daniel (11 August 2017). "Former Exeter Chiefs player cleared of sexually assaulting woman". devonlive. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "News".
- ^ "Matawalu and Allan to depart at end of season". 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Matawalu signs for Montauban – FBC News".