Waate "Pat" Pene Potaka (c.1903 – 3 November 1967)[1][2][3] was a New Zealand rugby union player who represented the All Blacks in 1923 and the Māori All Blacks between 1922 and 1927. He was regarded as a utility back, as he played in every back position throughout his career.
| Birth name | Waate Pene Potaka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | c. 1903 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Taihape, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 3 November 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Taihape, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Te Aute College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Although his birth name was Waate, Potaka was generally known as Pat.[4][5]
He was born in Taihape, but was educated at Te Aute College in the Hawke's Bay region.[4]
Career
editProvincial
editHe initially played as a halfback, but soon found himself playing as a fly half and fullback.[4]
For the majority of his career Potaka played for the Rata club. He had stints at the Aotea and Ratana clubs towards the end of his career.[5]
He totalled 25 games for the Wanganui union.[4]
All Blacks
editAfter playing in the 1923 North against South Island match, Potaka gained his only two appearances for the All Blacks, both of which were against New South Wales. The first was played in Dunedin and the second in Christchurch where he came on as a substitute onto the wing and then scored a try.[4][5]
The next year in 1924 Potaka trialled to be selected for the team that would go on to be nicknamed The Invincibles. He was not selected.[4]
Māori All Blacks
editPotaka first played for the Māori All Blacks in 1922.[4]
He was selected for the 1926–27 tour of New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Europe and Canada.[5] He played in 18 matches on the great tour. Potaka mainly played in the centre position on the tour, but at times was used at fullback and five-eighths.[4]
His total number of games for the Māori All Blacks was 50.[4]
References
edit- ^ "the 1,109 New Zealand ALL BLACKS from 1884 - NATHAN to YOUNG :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy". www.familytreecircles.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "PECK of Taita - Family Tree". ngairedith.tribalpages.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "Waate Pene Potaka". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. p. 135. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.