Even if you are not a die-hard rugby enthusiast, you have probably come across the name Tendai Mtawarira. If not, you have encountered the moniker The Beast. The Beast is the nickname for Tendai Mtawarira, a highly skilled rugby player in South Africa. Despite his Zimbabwean roots, he has successfully carved out a reputation for himself in SA.
Tendai Mtawarira is among rugby’s most significant loosehead props due to his exceptional skills. His outstanding abilities have garnered him a substantial fan base plating for the Springboks and the Sharks.
Mtawarira was born in Harare, Zimbabwe on August 1, 1985. He attended Churchill School in Harare for five years before receiving a full scholarship to Peterhouse Boys’ School in Mashonaland East. Additionally, he has a brother called Ray Mtawarira, who is also a rugby player and a sister called Lisa Mtawarira, a biochemistry professional.
CAREER
As per Briefly News, Mtawarira’s story in rugby started when he was 15 years old after a Zimbabwean coach named Joey Muwadzuri spotted him when he was attending Churchill. Muwadzuri later invited him to join the Under 19 team at the National Schools Festival. Afterwards, the coach asked him to be a part of the Cats and Dogs Rugby Academy team, which emerged victorious in the National Seniors 7’s tournament the same year.
During the 2008 Super 14 season, Tendai showed great promise for the Sharks. Thanks to his speed, he took advantage of the newly implemented ELV rules, which resulted in his inclusion in the Springbok team. He debuted against Wales on June 14th of the same year, although at first, he had few opportunities to play.
In 2019, he was part of the SA rugby squad that won the Rugby World Cup. From his stats, Mtawarira has also participated in uncapped games including 25 Test matches, 29 Rugby Championship and 13 Rugby World Cup matches for the Springboks.
Rugby aside Tendai has been involved in various businesses and philanthropy works for over a decade. According to his website, the rugby star serves as the ambassador for Lead, an organization that constructs sports academies in underprivileged regions of Africa. He is also a representative for the Higherlife Foundation, which provides educational opportunities for bright children in deprived communities.
From 2017 to 2019, he participated in Old Mutual’s rugby development program, which uses rugby to socially include children in remote areas of Zimbabwe. Additionally, he is the CEO of Umlindi Pvt Ltd a security company in South Africa.
PERSONAL LIFE
Tendai Mtawarira is the husband of Kuziva Mtawarira, a mental health advocate and voice-over artist. The pair got married on 12 September 2010 in a beautiful ceremony attended by family and friends. They both rocked all-white outfits, with the groom wearing a white suit and the bride in a gorgeous gown.