Meet Matt Bryant. Matt is a former member of the New Zealand Senior Men's team.

Matt has been playing and involved in the NZ national team programmes since January 2008. His sporting prowess included two years in the Wellington U20 Development rubgy team. He grew up in Wellington playing for Hutt Water Polo. His move to Canterbury was welcomed and has been an important figure in our sport, most recently coaching a team to the clubs first national gold medal since the earthquakes, the Under 21 Mens team.

Matt's influence comes from both Liz Burman, who coached him at Hutt for a number of his formative years, and Josef Sike in the middle of his playing career. Josef coached Matt 2011-2015 while playing at Hutt for the senior men, and 2013-2014 while in the national mens team. 

While only recently stepping down from the board to focus on his growing family, he was a valued member of the Board.

Matt currently plays for the Canterbury Mens team. His coaching involvement remins with the under 21 mens side, and continues to support the sport.


See below a detailed of Matts hitsory in the sport.

Coaching

2007-2008 – Hutt u12 Mixed (2nd Olympic Hopefuls Tournament 2008)

2009-2013 – Hutt u14 Boys (3rd at u14 Nationals 2011)

2014 – Hutt u20 Men – Assistant Coach and Wellington Schoolboys Representative Team – Assistant Coach

2015 – Hutt u19 Men – Assistant Coach (2nd at Nationals 2015)

2016 – Canterbury u20 men, u14 boys

2017-2018 – Canterbury u16 boys

2019-2020 – Canterbury u18 Men (2nd at Nationals 2020)

2021-2022 – Canterbury u21 Men (1st at Nationals 2022)


Playing:

Member of Hutt Men’s team 2006 - 2019. Member of National title winning team in 2011. MVP National League 2018

2008 – Member of Hutt u20 Men’s team, winners of Pan Pacs

2008 – New Zealand u17 Boys team – co-captain on USA/Serbia Tour

2008 – New Zealand Schoolboys, vice-captain in series win vs Australia

2009 – Junior World Championships, Croatia

2013 – New Zealand Men’s team debut at Oceania/Asia World League in Auckland. Member of Men’s team for Senior World Champs, Barcelona

2014 – Attended Commonwealth Championships, Scotland

2017 – Played at World League, Gold Coast, Australia

2019 – World League, Auckland

2019 – World League, Perth and World Championships South Korea

2020 – Present – Member of Canterbury Men’s team