# Tonderai Chavhanga > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tonderai_Chavhanga > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tonderai_Chavhanga.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonderai_Chavhanga > Source revision: 1313055330 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) South African rugby union player Rugby player Tonderai Chavhanga Born (1983-12-24) 24 December 1983 (age 42) 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 Position 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 International career 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 **Tonderai Chavhanga** (born 24 December 1983) is a South African [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player.[1] Chavhanga has played for the national team, the [Springboks](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team), having been capped four times. ## Childhood Chavhanga was born in [Harare](/source/Harare), [Zimbabwe](/source/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](/source/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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Career Chavhanga played for the [Stormers](/source/Stormers) in the international [Super Rugby](/source/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](/source/Uruguay_national_rugby_union_team) at the [Basil Kenyon Stadium](/source/Basil_Kenyon_Stadium) in [East London](/source/East_London%2C_South_Africa). 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia: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](/source/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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Chavhanga joined [Welsh](/source/Wales) regional side [Newport Gwent Dragons](/source/Dragons_(rugby_union)) 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](/source/Cheetahs_(rugby_union)) squad for the [2013 Currie Cup Premier Division](/source/2013_Currie_Cup_Premier_Division) season.[3] ### Test history 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 ## Xenophobia He made a strong statement against xenophobia when he addressed media, in his capacity as a [Springbok](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team) on the 2008 [xenophobic](/source/Xenophobic) attacks. He also clearly stated that he was a Shona, a Zimbabwean ethnic tribe. ## See also - [List of South Africa national rugby union players](/source/List_of_South_Africa_national_rugby_union_players) – Springbok no. **768** ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tonderai Chavhanga"](http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/14877.html). ESPNscrum. Retrieved 4 November 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Chavhanga joins Dragons](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/9267599.Tonderai_wings_in_to_Parade/) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-SA_Rugby_Squad_–_Toyota_Free_State_Cheetahs_:_2013_Absa_Currie_Cup_Premier_Division_3-0)** ["SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State Cheetahs : 2013 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/teams.aspx?id=12654&leagueid=1294). South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016. ## External links - [Lions profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20100413144355/http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/index.php/all-rugby/super-14/player-profiles/277-tonderai-chavhanga) - [Tonderai Chavhanga](https://web.archive.org/web/20131216155221/http://www.genslin.us/bokke/SARugby.html) on Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame - [Tonderai Chavhanga](http://www.sarugby.com/news/Player/pid=25850.html) on SARugby.com - [Tonderai Chavhanga](http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_1810.html) on itsrugby.co.uk - [Tonderai Pace Explosion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p93mxSU2bJc) Witness the express pace on YouTube.com - [Tondie transfers to Lions](http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,15995_5575353,00.html) - [Newport Gwent Dragons squad](http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/personnel.aspx?pr=222916) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tonderai Chavhanga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonderai_Chavhanga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonderai_Chavhanga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.