Caleb Makene (born 20 April 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back or fly-half for Utah Warriors in the Major League Rugby (MLR). In New Zealand, he most recently played for Hawke's Bay in the National Provincial Championship competition[1]
| Full name | Caleb Lydon Makene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 April 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Napier, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb; 190 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Napier Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Lincoln University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career
editBorn and raised in Napier, Makene attended and played rugby for Napier Boys' High School, captaining their first XV in 2014. After graduating high school, he headed south to attend Lincoln University in Christchurch and study environmental planning and management. While there, he was signed up by the Crusaders Academy and after 2 years in the Crusaders and Canterbury rugby structures, he was loaned to the Tasman Mako for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup.[2] Two tries in nine appearances for the Mako helped them reach the final of the 2016 Premiership, in which ironically they were defeated by Makene's parent province, Canterbury.[3] After two seasons playing for Canterbury,[4][5] Makene decided in February 2019 to return home to Hawke's Bay to play for the Magpies.[6]
While not initially named in their squad for the 2021 Super Rugby season, Makene was called into the Highlanders squad as cover for Vilimoni Koroi, who was training with the New Zealand Sevens team in preparation of the 2021 Olympics.[7] He made his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders on 2 April 2021 against the Crusaders.[8]
On 2 December 2021, Makene was named in the Utah Warriors squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season.[9]
International
editMakene was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which competed in the 2016 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship as well as the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in England, making 5 appearances and scoring 6 tries.[3][10]
References
edit- ^ "2023 Magpies squad release". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Rookie winger Caleb Makene hoping to take his chances". Tasman Mako. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Caleb Makene itsrugby Player Statistics". it's rugby. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ "Six new names in Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup squad". Canterbury Rugby Union. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Joe Maddock names eight new players in 2018 Canterbury squad". Canterbury Rugby Union. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Makene to return home". Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Super Rugby: Highlanders sign star Otago wing Freedom Vahaakolo". Stuff New Zealand. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Speight's Highlanders to play the Crusaders". Highlanders. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "Warriors announce 2022 roster". Utah Warriors (Press release). 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ "Caleb Makene New Zealand Under-20 Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.