Tribute to TONDERAI CHAVHANGA - "FLYING ZIMBABWEAN"

A tribute to Tonderai Chavhanga. Join Rugbyfor1ife on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/rugbyfor1ife
Tonderai Chavhanga (born 24 December 1983 in Masvingo, Zimbabwe) 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."[1] 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

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.

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 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 way 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.