Charlie Ngatai

Position: Midfield Back
Hurricane: 170
Height: 188
Weight: 103
Date of birth: 17/08/1990
Birthplace: Gisborne
Province: Wellington
Nickname: Chizel
Career: 2011,2012
Points: 5 (1 t)

Bio

Midfield back Charlie Ngatai’s first two seasons for the Hurricanes were both interrupted by injury. In 2011 he broke his ankle in just his third match and in his first start for the Hurricanes against the eventual champions the Reds, the injury keeping him out of all rugby until the latter rounds of the ITM Cup that followed. In 2012 injury frustrated his Super Rugby campaign.

Heading into his debut Hurricanes season in 2011, Ngatai already had a long list of achievements on the rugby field. Strong and creative and with a booming boot to match, the then 18-year old Ngatai made an immediate impact during the 2009 Wellington Premier club season after transferring south from Gisborne and Poverty Bay whom he played for while still at school in 2008.

Ngatai then played in the Wellington Lions’ two pre-season Ranfurly Shield defences against Wairarapa-Bush and Wanganui at second five-eighth, scoring a try in each, and made his ITM Cup debut nine days shy of his 19^th birthday not long after. He went on to play four competition round-robin matches in his maiden season.

In 2010 Ngatai was part of the New Zealand U20 side that defended its IRB World Junior title in Argentina, before playing a full role in his second season for Wellington in the ITM Cup, taking the field in 13 of 14 possible games.

Ngatai played for the New Zealand Maori side in 2012, before transferring to the Chiefs for 2013.

Ngatai is a former New Zealand Secondary Schools representative out of Gisborne Boys’ High School.