Lovejoy Chawatama

Lovejoy Chawatama

Full name	Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama
Date of birth	(1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Harare, Zimbabwe
Height	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)
University	University of West England
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop Current team Harlequins Youth career 2007-2010 Beckenham RFC Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2010-2012 Beckenham RFC ?? (??) 2012-2014 Bridgwater & Albion ?? (??) 2014-2015 London Scottish 4 (0) 2014-2015 →Clifton (loan) 12 (0) 2015-2016 Rosslyn Park 28 (5) 2016-2017 London Welsh 10 (0) 2017-2023 London Irish 94 (15) 2023-2024 Harlequins 5 (0) 2024- Bristol Bears 0 (0) Correct as of 30 November 2023 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012 Kent under-20 ?? (??) 2014 England Students 4 (0) Correct as of 21 July 2023

Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama (26 August 1992) is a Zimbabwean rugby union player who plays for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby competition. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Club career

Beckenham RFC

Moving to England at 15 from Zimbabwe, Chawatama joined his local club Beckenham RFC where he was mentored by former Wasps player Dan Leek. ^{[4] [5]}

Bridgwater & Albion RFC

He joined Bridgwater & Albion after being convinced by his university coach ex-England tighthead Darren Crompton who was also coaching down there. At the time he was playing as a back-rower but he was told his height would prevent him from reaching the highest level of the game and that a move to the front row was the only way to fulfil his aspirations. ^{[6] [7]}

London Scottish F.C.

He joined London Scottish 2014, making his debut against Jersey Reds coming off the bench.

Clifton

While at London Scottish, he went on loan to Clifton to get more game time. ^[8]

London Welsh

He joined rival Championship side London Welsh, however after only 10 matches he left mid-season to join London Irish. ^[8]

London Irish

Joining London Irish during the 2016-17 season he went on to win promotion with the Sunbury-on-Thames side to the Premiership. During the 2020-21 season, Chawatama reached the 50-appearance milestone for London Irish as he enjoyed a stellar season in the green jersey, making 18 appearances in all competitions. ^[9]

In 2023 London Irish was suspended from the Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup after failing to prove they have the finances to operate in the 2023/24 campaign.

Harlequins

Chawatama joined Harlequins before the 2023/24 season after being out of contract from London Irish. ^[10]

Bristol Bears

On 3 April 2024, Chawatama would sign for Premiership rivals Bristol Bears from the 2024–25 season. ^[11]

Honours

London Irish

• RFU Championship - 2016–17, 2018–19
• Premiership Rugby Cup (runners up) - 2021–22, 2022–23

Personal

• 2017 Zimbabwe Sports Personality of the Year ^[9]

References

1. "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
2. "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
3. "Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
4. Team, The Rugby Paper (21 October 2020). "Lovejoy Chawatama is at home among London Exiles". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
5. "'When I first came from amateur rugby I was just gym junkie strong... I never did cardio'". www.rugbypass.com. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
6. Team, The Rugby Paper (13 February 2015). "Young Gun: Lovejoy Chawatama – London Scottish prop". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
7. admin (19 January 2015). "Lovejoy Chawatama Earns England Students Call-Up". London Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
8. "All time stats Lovejoy Chawatama". Statbunker. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
9. "Lovejoy Chawatama". London Irish. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
10. "Harlequins Sign Lovejoy Chawatama". www.quins.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
11. "Lovejoy Chawatama: Prop signs from Harlequins for 2024-25 campaign". BBC Sport. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.