| Full name | Caleb Lydon Makene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1996-04-20)20 April 1996 (age 28) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Napier, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb; 190 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Napier Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Lincoln University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Caleb Makene (born 20 April 1996) is aNew Zealandrugby union player who currently plays as anoutside back orfly-half forUtah Warriors in theMajor League Rugby (MLR). In New Zealand, he most recently played forHawke's Bay in theNational Provincial Championship competition[1]
Born and raised in Napier, Makene attended and played rugby for Napier Boys' High School, captaining their first XV in 2014. After graduating high school, he headed south to attend Lincoln University in Christchurch and study environmental planning and management. While there, he was signed up by theCrusaders Academy and after 2 years in the Crusaders and Canterbury rugby structures, he was loaned to the Tasman Mako for the2016 Mitre 10 Cup.[2] Two tries in nine appearances for the Mako helped them reach the final of the 2016 Premiership, in which ironically they were defeated by Makene's parent province, Canterbury.[3] After two seasons playing forCanterbury,[4][5] Makene decided in February 2019 to return home toHawke's Bay to play for the Magpies.[6]
While not initially named in their squad for the2021 Super Rugby season, Makene was called into theHighlanders squad as cover forVilimoni Koroi, who was training with theNew Zealand Sevens team in preparation of the2021 Olympics.[7] He made hisSuper Rugby debut for the Highlanders on 2 April 2021 against theCrusaders.[8]
On 2 December 2021, Makene was named in theUtah Warriors squad for the2022 Major League Rugby season.[9]
Makene was a member of theNew Zealand Under 20 side which competed in the2016 Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship as well as the2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship inEngland, making 5 appearances and scoring 6 tries.[3][10]