Vila Matautia

Vila Matautia is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.[1][2] He was a Samoan international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He also played with St Helens in the Super League, having championship and Challenge Cup Final success with them.

Vila Matautia
Personal information
Full nameVila Matautia
Born (1969-08-31) 31 August 1969
Samoa
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–95 Doncaster 83 34 0 2 138
1995–01 St. Helens 145 24 0 0 96
2002 Leigh Centurions 25 2 0 0 8
Total 253 60 0 2 242
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995 Samoa 2 3 0 0 12
2000 USA
Source: [1][2]
As of 10 Sep 2020

Background

Matautia was born in Samoa.

Club career

Matautia started his career at Doncaster in 1990.[3]

Matautia played for St Helens from the interchange bench in their 1996 Challenge Cup Final victory over Bradford Bulls.[4] Matautia played for St. Helens from the interchange bench in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls.

Matautia played as an interchange/substitute (replacing Prop Ian Pickavance on 25-minutes) in St. Helens' 16-25 defeat by Wigan in the 1995–96 Regal Trophy Final during the 1995–96 at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 13 January 1996.[5] As Super League V champions, St. Helens played against 2000 NRL Premiers, the Brisbane Broncos in the 2001 World Club Challenge. Matautia played from the interchange bench in Saints' victory.

Matautia left Saints and joined Leigh Centurions in 2002.[6]

Representative career

Matautia represented Samoa, and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He also played for the United States rugby league team, trying to get them into the 2000 Rugby League World Cup through his grandmother who was born in Hawaii.[7]

Assault conviction

In December 2017, he assaulted a 15-year-old Rainford High Technology College pupil, inflicting a broken nose, fractured cheek bone and severe bruising. In July 2018, he pleaded guilty and received a seven-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.[8][9]

References
  1. "Statistics at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. "Player Statistics". R.Terrace, R.Green and Doncaster RLFC. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. "steveprescottfoundation.co.uk". Steve Prescott Stats. Steve Prescott Foundation. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  5. "13th January 1996: St Helens 16 Wigan 25 (Regal Trophy Final)". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  6. "They Played For Leigh". Leigh Centurions. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  7. Hadfield, Dave (21 November 1999). "Lebanese have talent to star on the Disney stage". The Independent. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  8. "Former top rugby player knocked child, 15, unconscious for 'bullying his son'". 10 July 2018.
  9. "WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: 'Horrific' injuries caused to Rainford pupil by ex-Saints star Vila Matautia".
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