Tonderai Chavhanga
Encyclopedia
Tonderai Chavhanga is a South African rugby union
player. Chavhanga has played for the national team, the Springboks
, being capped once in 2005. He played for the Stormers
in the international Super 14
competition. Tonderai Chavhanga 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 points to three. Chavhanga scored six tries in the match and now holds the South African record for the 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.
It was rumoured that he could run 100m in 10.27 seconds which he has denied saying “I was not bad, but it’s not true that I ran the 100m in 10.27 seconds. It was 10.5. 10.2 is pretty fast." and according to Jake White
, the former springbok coach's book (in black and white), he is possibly the fastest rugby player in South African history, and in the world at the moment.
In September 2011 Chavhanga joined Welsh
regional side Newport Gwent Dragons
.
on the 2008 xenophobic attacks. He also clearly stated that he was Shona, a Zimbabwean ethnic tribe.
He played rugby for the first time in Grade 5, at Harare's government-owned Blakiston Primary School. Even at such a tender age, Tonderai's speed qualities were very 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.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. Chavhanga has played for the national team, the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, being capped once in 2005. He played for the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
in the international Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition. Tonderai Chavhanga 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
Uruguay national rugby union team
The Uruguay national rugby union team is the representative side of Uruguay, governed by the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay. They have been playing international rugby since 1948. Their jersey is blue and black and they are known as Los Teros. They qualified twice for the Rugby World Cup, in 1999 and...
at the Basil Kenyon Stadium in East London. The Springboks notched up a large victory, winning 134 points to three. Chavhanga scored six tries in the match and now holds the South African record for the 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.
It was rumoured that he could run 100m in 10.27 seconds which he has denied saying “I was not bad, but it’s not true that I ran the 100m in 10.27 seconds. It was 10.5. 10.2 is pretty fast." and according to Jake White
Jake White
Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
, the former springbok coach's book (in black and white), he is possibly the fastest rugby player in South African history, and in the world at the moment.
In September 2011 Chavhanga joined Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
regional side Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
.
Childhood
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. Tonderai Chavhanga attended Prince Edward High 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.Xenophobia
He made a strong statement against xenophobia when he addressed media, in his capacity as a SpringbokSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
on the 2008 xenophobic attacks. He also clearly stated that he was Shona, a Zimbabwean ethnic tribe.
He played rugby for the first time in Grade 5, at Harare's government-owned Blakiston Primary School. Even at such a tender age, Tonderai's speed qualities were very 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.
External links
- Lions profile
- Tonderai Chavhanga on Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame
- Tonderai Chavhanga on SARugby.com
- Tonderai Pace Explosion Witness the express pace on Youtube.com
- Tondie transfers to Lions