Championship outfit sign versatile Samoan back in latest recruitment push

York Knights have announced the signing of versatile Samoan Toa Mata’afa as they strive to build momentum in the Championship.

Mata’afa has signed a deal until the end of the 2026 campaign with the Knights and joins the club from French side FC Lezignan.
The 28-year-old can play across the back line, providing depth at full-back, wing and centre and he could be set to make his debut this weekend as York host Hunslet in the second tier.

Mata’afa has spent the last two seasons plying his trade in the French league but prior to that he was something of a fixture in the New South Wales Cup. Since 2017 he has represented the second strong sides of Wests Tigers, Newcastle Knights, Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels and his last two seasons in the competition were with North Sydney Bears.

He’s made 67 appearances in the reserve competition, scoring 23 tries along the way, but has never featured at a first-grade level. He’ll be keen to impress in the colours of York then and head coach Mark Applegarth expects big things from him.

Toa Mata’afa joins Championship club York Knights

“He’s a player we’ve been monitoring for a month or two. He can fill in any of the positions in the back five,” the boss told the Knights website.

“He’s a real handful, a real unit. He’s got some good skill on him, a really intelligent footballer. I’m sure he’ll quickly become a fan favourite.”

York have had a mixed start to the Championship season, with the club losing their first three league games. Wins have come over Batley Bulldogs, Barrow Raiders, Doncaster, Widnes Vikings and London Broncos since mid-March, though.

As such, they now sit sixth in the league table and that’s four points behind leaders Halifax Panthers. With an 1895 Cup semi-final approaching quickly on the horizon and some key games in the league, Applegarth will be keen to see Mata’afa make an immediate impact at the LNER Community Stadium.