Takudzwa Ngwenya

Takudzwa Ngwenya
Date of birth (1985-07-22) 22 July 1985
Place of birth Harare, Zimbabwe
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight 187 lb (13 st 5 lb; 85 kg)
School Vainona High School
University Brookhaven College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007-2016
2016
2016-present		 Biarritz Olympique
San Diego Breakers
CA Brive 		239
6
20		 (430) 86t
(10) 2t
(35) 7t
Correct as of 31 May 2017
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007-present  United States 36 (65)
Correct as of 19 June 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Comps
2006–2009  United States 5 (0)

Takudzwa Ngwenya (born 22 July 1985) is a rugby union player who plays on the wing for the United States national rugby union team and PRO Rugby team San Diego Breakers. He made his mark in the 2007 Rugby World Cup with scintillating tries against South Africa[1] and Samoa.

Early career

Ngwenya was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. The oldest of three boys, Ngwenya first played rugby in Zimbabwe for the Mashonaland Club and for Vainona High School, from which he graduated in 2003. After moving to the USA, he played for the Plano Rugby Club in Plano, Texas and went on to play for the Dallas Athletic Rugby Club for a few years. He was clocked at 10.5 hand time for the 100 m dash. DARC Rugby sent him to play for the Texas Select Side and the USA Under 19 national team, then the national Sevens team that came first in Bangkok and the 2007 North America 4.

Professional career

Ngwenya was offered a one-month trial at Saracens in England's Guinness Premiership by new coach Eddie Jones. However, he got a considerably better offer from Biarritz in France's Top 14, signing a two-year contract with them on 6 November 2007.[2] Since 2007 Ngwenya has been a constant presence on the wing for Biarritz. Ngwenya scored 2 tries in the 2007-08 Heineken Cup. In the 2009–10 Heineken Cup he helped the club make their first final since the 2006, finishing tied for second in tries scored with 6.[3] Ngwenya also had a stellar year in the 2009–10 Top 14 season, starting in 21 games and winning 7 tries.[3] In the 2010-11 Heineken Cup Ngwenya scored 5 tries, again tying for second. During the 2011-12 Top 14 season Ngwenya collected five tries in the Top 14 and added 4 more in the Heineken Cup[4] Ngwenya crossed the whitewash for Biarritz seven times in all competitions during both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.[5]

Ngwenya playing for Biarritz in 2013

After a season with the San Diego Breakers in the inaugural PRO Rugby season Ngwenya headed back to France and the Top 14 after signing with CA Brive.[6]

Club Statistics

As of match played 31 May 2017.
Club statistics
Club Season League Heineken Cup Amlin Challenge Cup Other Total
Division Apps Tries Apps Tries Apps Tries Apps Tries Apps Tries
Biarritz Olympique 2007–08 Top 14 19 8 3 2 0 0 — 22 10
Biarritz Olympique 2008–09 Top 14 21 10 6 0 0 0 — 27 10
Biarritz Olympique 2009–10 Top 14 21 7 8 6 0 0 — 29 13
Biarritz Olympique 2010–11 Top 14 25 9 7 5 0 0 — 32 14
Biarritz Olympique 2011–12 Top 14 19 5 6 4 3 0 — 28 9
Biarritz Olympique 2012–13 Top 14 26 6 5 1 2 0 — 33 7
Biarritz Olympique 2013–14 Top 14 21 5 0 0 5 2 — 26 7
Biarritz Olympique 2014–15 Pro D2 21 7 0 0 0 0 — 21 7
Biarritz Olympique 2015–16 Pro D2 21 9 0 0 0 0 — 21 9
San Diego Breakers 2016 PRO Rugby 6 2 0 0 0 0 — 6 2
CA Brive 2016–17 Top 14 13 2 0 0 7 5 — 20 7
Total 201 68 35 18 10 2 265 95

International Tries

As of match played 12 October 2015.

Takudzwa Ngwenya's International Tries [7]
Try Opposing Team City/Country Venue Competition Year
[1]  Samoa Saint-Etienne, France Stade Geoffroy-Guichard 2007 Rugby World Cup 2007
[2]  South Africa Montpellier, France Stade de la Mosson 2007 Rugby World Cup 2007
[3]  Uruguay Sandy, Utah, USA Rio Tinto Stadium Test Match 2008
[4]  Japan Nagoya, Japan Mizuho Rugby Stadium Test Match 2008
[5]  Japan Tokyo, Japan Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium Test Match 2008
[6]  Russia Glendale, Colorado, USA Infinity Park 2010 Churchill Cup 2010
[7]  Portugal Lisbon, Portugal Estádio Universitário de Lisboa Test Match 2010
[8]  Canada Toronto, Canada BMO Field Test Match 2011
[9]  Romania Bucharest, Romania Stadionul Arcul de Triumf Test Match 2012
[10]  Canada Toronto, Canada BMO Field 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier 2013
[11]  Romania Bucharest, Romania| Stadionul Arcul de Triumf Test Match 2014
[12]  Fiji Vannes, France Stade de la Rabine Test Match 2014
[13]  Japan Gloucester, England Kingsholm 2015 Rugby World Cup 2015
[13] Argentina Argentina XV Houston, Texas BBVA Compass Stadium 2016 Americas Rugby Championship 2016

References

  1. ↑ "Rugby World Cup Match Report, South Africa 64 USA 15. BBC News online, 30 September 2007.
  2. ↑ "Takudzwa Ngwenya pour deux ans à Biarritz" (in French). Biarritz Olympique. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  3. 1 2 http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur_10159.html
  4. ↑ "Eagles Abroad: Season in Review, Part One".
  5. ↑ "Taku Nwenya". http://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_10159.html. itsrugby. Retrieved 16 June 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  6. ↑ "Taku Ngwenya Headed To Brive". TIAR. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. ↑ espnscrum http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/14945.html?class=1;orderby=date;template=results;type=player;view=match. Retrieved 20 December 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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