Simphiwe Brian Shabangu (born 16 May 2013) is a South African rugby union player who last played for the Pumas in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is flanker.

Brian Shabangu
Full nameSimphiwe Brian Shabangu
Date of birth (1988-04-11) 11 April 1988 (age 36)
Place of birthDurban, South Africa
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb; 212 lb)
SchoolGlenwood High School
UniversityUniversity of South Africa
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Youth career
2004–2008 Sharks
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 NMMU Madibaz 6 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 Border Bulldogs 26 (20)
2014–2018 Pumas 43 (35)
2014Falcons 1 (0)
Correct as of 16 July 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 South Africa President's XV 2 (0)
Correct as of 17 June 2013

Career

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Youth and Varsity rugby

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Shabangu came through the Sharks youth system, playing for their Under–16 team at the 2004 Grant Khomo Week, for the Under–18s at the 2005 Academy Week and for the Under–21 team in the 2008 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

At the start of 2013, Shabangu played Varsity Cup rugby for the NMMU Madibaz, who reached their first ever semi-final in this competition.

Border Bulldogs

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Shabangu signed for the Border Bulldogs in time for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season and instantly became a regular in the senior side, making his debut in the first game of the season against the SWD Eagles[2] and playing in all fourteen games of the season, starting thirteen of them.

Shabangu only played in two 2013 Vodacom Cup matches due to his Varsity Cup duties, but returned to the Bulldogs make a further ten appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division, scoring two tries.

Pumas

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Shabangu left the Bulldogs at the end of the 2013 season to join Nelspruit-based side the Pumas.[3] He was a member of the Pumas side that won the Vodacom Cup for the first time in 2015, beating Western Province 24–7 in the final.[4] Shabangu made nine appearances during the season, scoring two tries.

Sevens and Representative rugby

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Shabangu also played some sevens rugby, playing for the Sharks sevens team in 2009 and 2010[5] and captaining a South African Emerging Sevens team in the Safaricom Sevens tournament in 2011.[6]

In 2013, Shabangu was included in a South Africa President's XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup[7] and won the tournament after winning all three matches.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Brian Shabangu". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – SWD Eagles 46–8 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Pumas en Luiperds kry Super by" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Steval Pumas first-time Vodacom Cup champions – Final Review". South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Varsity Cup Player Profile Brian Shabangu". Varsity Cup. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Shabangu to lead SA Emerging Sevens to Kenya". Blitzbokke. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  7. ^ "SA President's XV selected for IRB Tblisi Cup". South African Rugby Union. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  8. ^ "SA President's XV win Tbilisi Cup". International Rugby Board. 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.