News | Rugby
18 Feb 2026 9:57
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  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    Canterbury winger Manasa Mataele is thankful of the support of his international rugby-playing wife Martha, as he makes a comeback in the NPC against Southland in Invercargill tonight

    Canterbury winger Manasa Mataele is thankful of the support of his international rugby-playing wife Martha, as he makes a comeback in the NPC against Southland in Invercargill tonight


    Mataele suffered a stress fracture in his back earlier in the year - keeping him sidelined during the Crusaders' season.

    He was also given personal leave to return to Fiji following the death of his mother.

    Meanwhile Mataele's wife - Martha - missed out on Black Ferns selection after debuting in 2023.

    He says they've been each other's rock.



    Kickoff from Invercargill's Rugby park at 5 past 7 - live commentary on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.

    NPC COVERAGE WITH GALLAGHER INSURANCE. PROUD PARTNERS OF PROVINCIAL RUGBY

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

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