Date of birth | 24 December 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Harare, Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb; 190 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Prince Edward School, Harare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of the Free State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tonderai Chavhanga (born 24 December 1983) is a South African rugby union player. [1] Chavhanga has played for the national team, the Springboks, having been capped four times.
Chavhanga was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was raised by his mother, who had a strong influence on his religious views. His mother worked in construction and built the house in which he grew up. Although poor his mother supported him financially and was the biggest influence on him. His father played very little role in his life, as he remarried and was uninvolved in his up bringing.
Chavhanga played rugby for the first time in Grade 5, at Harare's government-owned Blakiston Primary School. Even at a young age, Tonderai's speed qualities were evident as he was much quicker than his peers. He made first team rugby for three consecutive years at primary school and made the Harare Schools Representative team for three straight years playing fullback. Chavhanga attended Prince Edward School in Zimbabwe on a scholarship. He was the youngest player in the history of the school to play for the school's first team.[ citation needed ]
Chavhanga played for the Stormers in the international Super Rugby competition. He left Cape Town in 2010 after he signed a two-year contract with the Lions in September 2009.
Chavhanga made his international debut for the Springboks as a 21-year-old on 11 June 2005 on the right wing, in a home game against Uruguay at the Basil Kenyon Stadium in East London. The Springboks notched up a large victory, winning 134–3. Chavhanga scored six tries in the match and now holds the South African record for the most number of tries scored in one game.[ citation needed ] He missed the end of year touring matches, because of a quad muscle injury.
He was selected as part of the Springboks squad to tour New Zealand and Australia. He was on the bench for the game against the All Blacks in Christchurch. He could run the 100 meters in 10.27 seconds, possibly making him the fastest rugby player in South African history.[ citation needed ]
Chavhanga joined Welsh regional side Newport Gwent Dragons in September 2011, but was released at the end of the 2012–2013 season. [2]
He returned to South Africa and was included in the Free State Cheetahs squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season. [3]
No. | Opponents | Results (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Dates | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Uruguay | 134–3 | Wing | 6 | 11 June 2005 | Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London |
2. | New Zealand | 6–33 | Replacement | 14 July 2007 | AMI Stadium, Christchurch | |
3. | Wales | 43–17 | Wing | 7 June 2008 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | |
4. | Wales | 37–21 | Wing | 14 June 2008 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
He made a strong statement against xenophobia when he addressed media, in his capacity as a Springbok on the 2008 xenophobic attacks. He also clearly stated that he was a Shona, a Zimbabwean ethnic tribe.
Percival Colin Montgomery OIS is a South African former professional rugby union player. When he ended his international career in August 2008, he held the all-time records for both caps and points for South Africa's national team, known as the Springboks. He is currently the highest scoring full-back in the history of international rugby.
Robert Brian Skinstad is a former rugby union professional player who has represented the South African national team, the Springboks. He played in the positions of flanker and number eight.
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team, nicknamed the Sables, represents nation of Zimbabwe in international competition, and is administered by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. While sides representing the colony of Rhodesia have played as early as 1910, the modern day Zimbabwe rugby team did not play its first test until 1981, against Kenya. Zimbabwe has competed in two World Cups, in 1987 and 1991, in place of South Africa, who were sanctioned by the IRB at the time due to apartheid. Zimbabwe is categorized as Tier 3 Development One, which prioritizes Zimbabwe over other nations due to historical success as well as popularity of rugby in the nation.
Christoffel Johannes van der Linde is a South African former professional rugby union player and currently the scrum coach at French Top 14 side Montpellier. He played first class rugby between 2002 and 2015 in South Africa, Ireland, England and France and also made 75 test matches for South Africa, which included winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup. His usual playing position was prop.
François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the South Africa national team and Cheetahs. He usually plays at inside centre, fullback or wing.
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow is a South African former professional rugby union player. His usual position was as open-side flanker and his most recent club was Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
Jan Nathaniel du Plessis is a South African rugby union player, who plays as a prop for Montpellier in the French Top 14 and the Lions in Super Rugby. He played for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby until 2007, when he joined Durban-based side the Sharks, where he played until 2015. He won 70 caps for South Africa between 2007 and 2015.
Tendai Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-South African retired professional rugby union player who last played for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby and previously for the South Africa national team and the Sharks in Super Rugby. He was born in Zimbabwe and qualified for South Africa on residency grounds, before later acquiring South African citizenship. Mtawarira, a prop, is known by the nickname The Beast.
Rugby union in Zimbabwe is a popular sport and ranks after association football and cricket as one of the oldest and most popular sports in the country. The Zimbabwe national team, commonly known as the Sables, have been playing international rugby since the early 1900s and have made appearances in two Rugby World Cups Zimbabwe at the Rugby World Cup on two occasions. As with rugby union in Namibia, the country's lack of a professional structure, and opportunity for player's to earn an income playing rugby, has been a problem for national organisers.
Robert Thompson Ebersohn is a rugby union and Sevens professional player from South Africa. He has played for the Springboks Sevens, South Africa Under 20 and made his Super 14 debut for the Cheetahs in 2010. When participating in the 15-man format of rugby, his preferred position is centre although he has been employed as a fullback on various occasions.
McNeil Hendricks, also known as "Maccie", is a former South African rugby union player who played primarily as a wing. He starred in the movie Invictus, in which he played the role of Chester Williams.
Ashley Johnson is a professional rugby union player-coach who plays and coaches for Birmingham Moseley in National League 1. He previously played for Free State Cheetahs at provincial level, Cheetahs in the Super Rugby, Wasps in Premiership Rugby and the Springboks. His usual position is hooker, having converted from backrow whilst with Wasps. His first game for the Springboks was in 2009 on tour to the British Isles, but he only earned his first Test Caps in the 2011 Tri-Nations series.
Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen, nicknamed 'Coenie' or 'Shrek', is a professional rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. He previously represented the Free State Cheetahs and Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Cheetahs and Sharks in Super Rugby and also was chosen for the Springboks squad in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making his test debut in the first test against England in Durban in 2012.
Sarel Johannes Pretorius is a South African rugby player who plays at scrum half for the Southern Kings in the Pro14.
Martin Dirk Muller is a South African rugby union player, played with Hong Kong Premiership side Valley RFC. His regular playing position is lock.
Marnitz Louis Boshoff is a South African rugby union player who usually plays as a fly-half or fullback. He plays for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge, having previously played for South African provincial sides Griquas, the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and for Super Rugby side the Lions. He also had a short stint with Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14.
Cornal Hendricks is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His usual position is wing.
Timothy Gregory Swiel is an English-born South African rugby union player for the Western Province in the currie cup and the DHL Stormers in super rugby in South Africa. His regular position is fly-half.
Hanyani Masana Shimange is a former professional rugby union player. His position of choice was hooker, but he played one game for the Springboks at flank.
Henco van Wyk is a South African rugby union player for the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup. His regular position is outside centre. He was selected for the SA Schools Team in 2019.