Tonderai Chavhanga

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.

Tonderai Chavhanga
Date of birth (1983-12-24) 24 December 1983
Place of birthHarare, Zimbabwe
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight86 kg (13 st 8 lb; 190 lb)
SchoolPrince Edward School, Harare
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Youth career
2002–2003 Free State Cheetahs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2004 Free State Cheetahs 3 (5)
2004–2009 Stormers 37 (70)
2005–2009 Western Province 40 (80)
2010–2011 Lions 11 (10)
2010–2011 Golden Lions 8 (5)
2011–2013 Newport Gwent Dragons 28 (50)
2013 Free State Cheetahs 0 (0)
2014–2015 Sharks (Currie Cup) 16 (20)
2014–2015 Sharks 5 (5)
Correct as of 8 May 2015
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003 South Africa Under-21 3 (10)
2003 South Africa Sevens
2005–2008 South Africa 4 (30)
2007 Emerging Springboks 2 (10)
Correct as of 25 March 2015

Childhood

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.

Career

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. 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.

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]

Test history
No.OpponentsResults (RSA 1st)PositionTriesDatesVenue
1.Uruguay134–3Wing611 June 2005Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
2.New Zealand6–33Replacement14 July 2007AMI Stadium, Christchurch
3.Wales43–17Wing7 June 2008Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
4.Wales37–21Wing14 June 2008Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Xenophobia

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.

See also

References
  1. "Tonderai Chavhanga". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  2. Chavhanga joins Dragons
  3. "SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State Cheetahs : 2013 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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