CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –
Matai Leuta – an experienced coach and player who twice represented Team USA at the Olympics – has joined the Harvard University women's rugby coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach
Mel Denham has announced.
Joining the Crimson on the eve of the competitive portion of the spring 7s season, Leuta helped Harvard capture the plate final at Tropical 7s, win the Ivy 7s title, and place third at the CRAA 7s National Championship.
"It is a privilege to be a part of the Harvard Women's Rugby team and work with these amazing young student-athletes," Leuta said. "The players and coaching staff as a whole have done an incredible job at ensuring that rugby is showcased for the cultural, diverse, and exciting sport that it is which makes working here a great opportunity to share my own experiences and passion for the game. My goal is to educate, inspire, and empower all these young players to become the best they can be both on and off the pitch."
Prior to Harvard, Leuta gained extensive experience as a coach and player, including representing the United States twice in the Olympics in men's rugby at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games. Leuta helped the U.S. finish sixth in Tokyo and eighth in Paris.
Leuta began competing with the United States National Team in 2015, including representing the U.S. at the 2018 Rugby 7s World Cup with a sixth-place finish. Leuta competed in over 200 international matches for the U.S.
As part of a decorated playing career, Leuta tallied 10 World Sevens Series medals, including three cup final wins, captured two Premier Rugby Sevens championships, and earned five caps with the USA Eagles 15s.
Leuta has competed in Premier Rugby Sevens as well as in Major League Rugby with the Houston SaberCats (2022), Chicago Hounds (2023), and San Diego Legion (2024).
Leuta's coaching background has included time as a High Performance Coach with Rugby Tens, as a coach with Rhinos Rugby Academy, and as a technical skills coach with the USA Falcons and USA U18s. Among his coaching skills, Leuta has led high-performance programming, designed technical skills and tactical development systems, and built disciplined, accountable performance cultures.
