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| Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira Image credit: Asics.com |
Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira lists the 2009 British & Irish Lions Tour, along with winning in Japan in 2019 as the two biggest highlights of his career. Mtawarira made his debut in 2008 and, with 117 caps is the third most capped Springbok of all time.
“As a young 23-year-old I had to pinch myself because I was walking amongst giants facing the fabled Lions,” he remembers of that 2009 British & Irish Lions Tour.
A British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is a hugely significant event for both players and supporters, as it takes place only every 12 years or so. The 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series will be 14th Lions Tour to South Africa in the 130 years since the first one took place in 1891.
Mtawarira’s first test agains the Lions was at Kingspark, his homeground in Durban. “The whole stadium was chanting ‘Beast’ - that is the day I made a statement in the world of rugby,” he says, explaining what a massive milestone that was in his career. “There were some nerves in the change room ahead of that first game, but more so excitement - being able to play that first game at Kingspark was incredible and that gave me that extra confidence boost.”
A British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is a hugely significant event for both players and supporters, as it takes place only every 12 years or so. The 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series will be 14th Lions Tour to South Africa in the 130 years since the first one took place in 1891.
Mtawarira’s first test agains the Lions was at Kingspark, his homeground in Durban. “The whole stadium was chanting ‘Beast’ - that is the day I made a statement in the world of rugby,” he says, explaining what a massive milestone that was in his career. “There were some nerves in the change room ahead of that first game, but more so excitement - being able to play that first game at Kingspark was incredible and that gave me that extra confidence boost.”