Tabai Matson

A tall, strongly built midfield back, Tabai Matson was of immense value to Canterbury sides in the mid to late 1990s but never quite translated his considerable natural talent to the national arena.

Of part Fijian extraction, Matson attended Christ’s College in Chirstchurch and from there made New Zealand secondary schools and under 19 sides. He was a contemporary of Andrew Mehrtens and as well as playing in many of the same sides at Canterbury and national age group levels the pair became close friends and were noted for having the same zany sense of humour.

Matson, along with many youngsters like Mehrtens, Mark Mayerhofler and Todd Blackadder, made a big impact in his debut season with Canterbury in 1994 when the Ranfurly Shield was won from Waikato.

Matson was immediately earmarked as an All Black contender and was looked at closely for the 1995 World Cup squad. That year he appeared in trials, played for the South Island and for a New Zealand XV against the touring Canadians.

He missed World Cup selection but was placed on a standby list for the end of the year tour of France when coach Laurie Mains was allowed only 26 players. Matson went to France as a sponsor representative and whether by coincidence or design ended up appearing in three of the non test matches as a wing and as a centre, scoring a try against a French Selection in Nancy.

Matson was chosen the following year in the 36-man side which toured South Africa. But he appears not to have impressed coach John Hart and played in only two of the midweek matches and was never again an All Black.

Matson, however, continued to give Canterbury and the Crusaders excellent service as one of a celebrated quarter of four Ms in the backline, Justin Marshall, Mehrtens and Mark Mayerhofler. He played 58 games for Canterbury between 1994 and 1997 and was in the side which took the NPC first division title in 1997.

He had three seasons for the Crusaders in the Super 12 between 1996-98, playing in 25 matches and being in the team which won the final from the Blues in 1998. He then joined the exodus of fringe players by departing New Zealand for overseas contracts. He subsequently appeared briefly in Fiji sides.