Nomawethu Mabenge (born 27 August 1996) is a South African rugby union player who plays as an Outside Back for the EP Queens and the South Africa women's national rugby union team. In 2022 she was nominated for the International Rugby Players Women's Try of the Year award.[1]
| Date of birth | 27 August 1996 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (179 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Early life edit
"Weto" Mabenge is from Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[2]
Career edit
In September 2022 Mabenge was named in the South Africa squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand.[3] Mabenge scored South Africa’s first try at the World Cup, in their opening match against France, and in total scored five tries in seven appearances through 2022 for South Africa.[4]
Mabenge was nominated for the "International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year" for her try during the South Africa, v Spain on 12 August 2022 in Potchefstroom. She was said to have "combined strength, agility and pace to run in from halfway against Spain to score".[5]
Personal life edit
Mabenge is nicknamed "Sbu" after her male counterpart in the South African rugby team Sbu Nkosi.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Lukhanyo Am and Nomawethu Mabenge Nominated for World Rugby Awards". CCFM.org.za.
- ^ "Women put Gqeberha on rugby map". Heraldlive.co.za.
- ^ "SPRINGBOK WOMEN SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP IN NZ NAMED". Rugby365.com.
- ^ "Am and Mabenge nominated for world rugby 2022 awards". Ruggas.co.za.
- ^ "Am, Mabenge top award contenders". Therep.co.za.
- ^ "Springbok Women seal series win over Spain, a great omen for upcoming World Cup". News24.com.