Thabo Mabuza

Thabo Mabuza

Personal information
Full name	Sikhumbuzo Thabo Mabuza
Born	1 March 1994 Nelspruit, South Africa
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
School(s) attended	Centurion High School, Centurion
Club information
Playing position	Openside flanker
Current club	Griquas
Youth career
2007	Pumas
2010–12	Blue Bulls
2013–	Golden Lions
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Pts)^†
2014–15	Golden Lions	7	(15)
2016–	Griquas	0	(0)
Representative team(s)^‡
2011–12	S.A. Schools	4	(0)
2014	S.A. Under-20		()
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 22 May 2015. † Appearances (Points). ‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 21 May 2014.

Sikhumbuzo Thabo Mabuza (born 1 March 1994 in Nelspruit, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Griquas.^[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 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 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 Golden Lions for the 2013 season. He made thirteen appearances for the 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 Blue Bulls U19 in Cape Town.^[6]

In 2014, Mabuza was included in the S.A. 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 Golden Lions' opening match of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition against the 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 Griquas, another match that Mabuza featured in.^[9]

References

1. "SARU Player Profile Thabo Mabuza". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
2. "SA Schools and SA Academy Teams Announced". Rugby15. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
3. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs France". South African Rugby Union. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
4. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs Wales". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
5. "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs England". South African Rugby Union. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
6. "Match Breakdown: MTN Golden Lions vs Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
7. "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
8. "Match Breakdown: Leopards XV vs Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
9. "Match Breakdown: GWK Griquas vs Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.