Mat Hocken

Mat Hocken is a former New Zealand under 21 Rugby International player and played for the Brussels Barbarians for 5 years. He won 2 Blues for Cambridge University before moving to Brussels to work in Public Affairs. He is now a dairy farmer and Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei Dairy chairperson.
He has represented the Belgian National side three times.

Mat Hocken began playing rugby at age five and remembers playing in bare feet in the frosts at Timona Park in Fielding. One of his first memories was lining up to take a turn at putting my feet in a bucket of warm water to thaw them out after the game.

After learning to play the game at such a young level Matt progressed to the New Zealand Under 21's side. Matt played in a tournament in Argentina, which was effectively the under 21 World Cup, before they had such a thing. He also played against France, Australia and South Africa. Although keen to progress further in professional rugby injury and an interest to continue to University meant that he gave up the dreams of playing for the All Blacks at a young age.

As part of his studies Matt travelled to Cambridge University where he took part in the annual Colours match against Oxford University. Of that Matt says:

"It was definitely the biggest game I have played in terms of intensity, expectation, atmosphere and crowd size. The build up for this one match starts 3 months beforehand, or even before that for the students that are returning. In the days before the game there are a lot traditions that you are involved in which are a great experience and then there is so much happening before and after the game that it is all a bit of a blur. Some of the rugby and the players may not have been as good as in Argentina but the tradition and passion of the Varsity match is hard to beat."