Playing for her people: Maia Joseph on her return to Matatū

Maia Joseph has arguably just had the biggest 12 months of her rugby career to date.  

Joseph debuted for Matatū last season at 21 years old, her first Super Aupiki contract. Then just five weeks later ticked off another debut, playing in the starting lineup for the Black Ferns V United States test match.  

After travelling in the black jersey to Australia, England then Canada for the WXV, Joseph is back home in the South Island, prepping for her second Super Aupiki season.  

Joesph didn’t see any option other than returning to Matatū for 2025, “I always knew I wanted to come back” she said, “the team culture was pretty amazing, and usually it takes me a while to get used to a new environment but with Matatū I came here and felt like home straight away”.  

Playing for Matatū means Joseph can represent two influential provinces to her and her whanau. Brought up playing club rugby in Dunedin, Joseph is playing for the region that grew her as a player; while simultaneously representing her father’s side of the family, her iwi and marae in Blenheim. “Matatū being the whole South Island, I get to represent Dunedin and Otago, my school that have made me the playing that I am, but also my family. My parents and siblings still live in Dunedin, so I think it’s really special for me to be able to represent all the things that are really important to me”.  

Debuting alongside her in the Black Fern was new Matatū signing, Hannah King, “I’ve loved playing with Hannah,” said Joseph, “she’s got such a calm presence, and she works really hard off the field”. Joseph and King spent as much time together as they could throughout the week and at trainings, perfecting the all important communication between the number 9 and 10 jerseys. “I know she made me a lot better player, and I hope I helped her a lot playing for the Black Ferns”, said Joseph, “I’m really excited to play with Hannah at Matatū and I’m really enjoying training with her in Christchurch already”.