Cortez-Lee Peter Ratima (born 22 March 2001) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for Super Rugby club Chiefs and the New Zealand national team.[1][2]

Cortez Ratima
Full nameCortez-Lee Peter Ratima
Date of birth (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birthPiopio, New Zealand
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb; 13 st 10 lb)
SchoolHamilton Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Half-back
Current team Waikato, Chiefs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– Waikato 38 (45)
2022– Chiefs 42 (75)
Correct as of 8 September 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022 All Blacks XV 1 (0)
2024– New Zealand 8 (5)
Correct as of 28 September 2024

Early life

edit

Ratima was born in the King Country area of New Zealand's North Island in 2001.[3] His name, Cortez, comes from the 1972 Nike shoe of the same name because of his father's collection of the shoe.[4] He was raised on a farm in Piopio[5] and attended Piopio Primary School and College[5] in his youth and briefly attended New Plymouth Boys' High School on the North Island's western coastal region of Taranaki before relocating to Hamilton in the adjacent region to the north, Waikato.[5] Ratima finished his education at Hamilton Boys High School (HBHS) and was a regular representative of Waikato through all grades and was a part of the schools' first XV.[5] Ratima also represented the Waikato Chiefs U18s and New Zealand Māori U18s before eventually playing for the Waikato Rugby Academy at 17-years-old.[5]

Club career

edit

He was named in the Chiefs squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[6][7] He was also a member of the Waikato 2021 Bunnings NPC squad.[8]

International career

edit

He made his international test debut against England on 13th July 2024. He scored his first international try against Fiji on the 19th July 2024.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs Squad Announced for 2023". chiefs.co.nz. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Cortez Ratima – Halfback, Chief #350". chiefs.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023.
  3. ^ McConnell, Lynn (12 December 2023). "Ratima eyes opportunity in 2024 season". allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. The King Country-born Ratima said Super Rugby was enjoyable with the chances to be part of the squad and have some perks in travelling to Australia to play.
  4. ^ Pearson, Joseph (3 April 2022). "Why Cortez chose the Chiefs over Crusaders, Hurricanes". Sunday News. Stuff Ltd.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Number Twelve 2022 Calender" (PDF). numbertwelve.co.nz. 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2022" (Press release). Chiefs. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Super Rugby Pacific: Five New Zealand and Moana Pasifika squads revealed". Stuff.co.nz. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  8. ^ "2021 Waikato Bunnings Warehouse NPC Squad Announced" (Press release). Waikato Rugby. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
edit