Lovejoy Chawatama
| Full name | Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 26 August 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Harare, Zimbabwe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of West England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama (26 August 1992) is a Zimbabwean rugby union player who plays for Bristol Bears in the Premiership Rugby competition.[1][2][3]
Club career
[edit]Beckenham RFC
[edit]Moving to England at 15 from Zimbabwe, Chawatama joined his local club Beckenham RFC where he was mentored by former Wasps player Dan Leek.[4][5]
Bridgwater & Albion RFC
[edit]He joined Bridgwater & Albion after being convinced by his university coach ex-England tighthead Darren Crompton who was also coaching down there. At the time he was playing as a back-rower but he was told his height would prevent him from reaching the highest level of the game and that a move to the front row was the only way to fulfil his aspirations.[6][7]
London Scottish F.C.
[edit]He joined London Scottish 2014, making his debut against Jersey Reds coming off the bench.
Clifton
[edit]While at London Scottish, he went on loan to Clifton to get more game time.[8]
London Welsh
[edit]He joined rival Championship side London Welsh, however after only 10 matches he left mid-season to join London Irish.[8]
London Irish
[edit]Joining London Irish during the 2016-17 season he went on to win promotion with the Sunbury-on-Thames side to the Premiership. During the 2020-21 season, Chawatama reached the 50-appearance milestone for London Irish as he enjoyed a stellar season in the green jersey, making 18 appearances in all competitions.[9]
In 2023 London Irish was suspended from the Premiership and Premiership Rugby Cup after failing to prove they have the finances to operate in the 2023/24 campaign.
Harlequins
[edit]Chawatama joined Harlequins before the 2023/24 season after being out of contract from London Irish.[10]
Bristol Bears
[edit]On 3 April 2024, Chawatama would sign for Premiership rivals Bristol Bears from the 2024-25 season.[11]
Honours
[edit]London Irish
[edit]- RFU Championship - 2016–17, 2018–19
- Premiership Rugby Cup (runners up) - 2021–22, 2022–23
Personal
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (21 October 2020). "Lovejoy Chawatama is at home among London Exiles". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "'When I first came from amateur rugby I was just gym junkie strong... I never did cardio'". www.rugbypass.com. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (13 February 2015). "Young Gun: Lovejoy Chawatama – London Scottish prop". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ admin (19 January 2015). "Lovejoy Chawatama Earns England Students Call-Up". London Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b "All time stats Lovejoy Chawatama". Statbunker. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Lovejoy Chawatama". London Irish. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Harlequins Sign Lovejoy Chawatama". www.quins.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Lovejoy Chawatama: Prop signs from Harlequins for 2024-25 campaign". BBC Sport. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.