Thabo Mabuza
| Full name | Sikhumbuzo Thabo Mabuza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 February 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nelspruit, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb; 198 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Centurion, Centurion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sikhumbuzo Thabo Mabuza (born 1 February 1994 in Nelspruit, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Template:Rut Falcons in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge.[1] He generally plays as an openside flanker.
Career
Youth
Born in Nelspuit and attending the White River Primary School in Mpumalanga, Mabuza was chosen to play for the Template:Rut Pumas at the Under-13 Craven Week tournament in 2007.
He then went to Centurion High School, where he was selected for youth teams for the Template:Rut Blue Bulls. In 2010, he represented them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in Upington and he played for them in the Under-18 Craven Week tournament in both 2011 and 2012.
In both seasons, he was also selected for the South African Schools side. In 2011, he played in a 21–14 victory against a France Under-18 side in Port Elizabeth[2] and in 2012, he started in three matches – against France,[3] Wales[4] and England Under-18.[5]
Mabuza then made the move across the Jukskei River to join Johannesburg-based side the Template:Rut Golden Lions for the 2013 season. He made thirteen appearances for the Template:Rut Golden Lions U19 side during the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, helping them reach the final of the competition, where they lost 35–23 to the Template:Rut Blue Bulls U19 in Cape Town.[6]
In 2014, Mabuza was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship to be held in New Zealand.[7]
Golden Lions
Mabuza had a remarkable start to his first class career. He started the Template:Rut Golden Lions' opening match of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition against the Template:Rut Leopards in Potchefstroom on 7 March 2014. The Leopards led 16–3 shortly before the hour mark when Mabuza scored two tries in a four-minute spell to bring the Golden Lions back into the game and eventually helped them narrowly win the match 18–16.[8] A further three starts and two substitute appearances followed as the Golden Lions made it all the way to the final before losing to Template:Rut Griquas, another match that Mabuza featured in.[9]
References
- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Thabo Mabuza". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Schools and SA Academy Teams Announced". Rugby15. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17–7 France". South African Rugby Union. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 24–16 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 36–29 England". South African Rugby Union. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 23–35 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards XV 16–18 Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 30–6 Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.