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Lovejoy Chawatama

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Lovejoy Chawatama
Full nameLovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama
Date of birth (1992-08-26) 26 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthHarare, Zimbabwe
Height179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)
UniversityUniversity of West England
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Current team Harlequins
Youth career
2007-2010 Beckenham RFC
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010-2012 Beckenham RFC ?? (??)
2012-2014 Bridgwater & Albion ?? (??)
2014-2015 London Scottish 4 (0)
2014-2015Clifton (loan) 12 (0)
2015-2016 Rosslyn Park 28 (5)
2016-2017 London Welsh 10 (0)
2017-2023 London Irish 94 (15)
2023-2024 Harlequins 5 (0)
2024- Bristol Bears 0 (0)
Correct as of 30 November 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Kent under-20 ?? (??)
2014 England Students 4 (0)
Correct as of 21 July 2023

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

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Beckenham RFC

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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

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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.

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He joined London Scottish 2014, making his debut against Jersey Reds coming off the bench.

Clifton Rugby

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While at London Scottish, he went on loan to Clifton to get more game time.[8]

London Welsh

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He joined rival Championship side London Welsh, however after only 10 matches he left mid-season to join London Irish.[8]

London Irish

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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

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Chawatama joined Harlequins before the 2023/24 season after being out of contract from London Irish.[10]

Bristol Bears

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On 3 April 2024, Chawatama would sign for Premiership rivals Bristol Bears from the 2024-25 season.[11]

Honours

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London Irish

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Personal

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References

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  1. ^ "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Lovejoy CHAWATAMA - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Lovejoy Tinotenda Chawatama". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  4. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (21 October 2020). "Lovejoy Chawatama is at home among London Exiles". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  5. ^ "'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.
  6. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (13 February 2015). "Young Gun: Lovejoy Chawatama – London Scottish prop". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  7. ^ admin (19 January 2015). "Lovejoy Chawatama Earns England Students Call-Up". London Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b "All time stats Lovejoy Chawatama". Statbunker. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Lovejoy Chawatama". London Irish. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Harlequins Sign Lovejoy Chawatama". www.quins.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Lovejoy Chawatama: Prop signs from Harlequins for 2024-25 campaign". BBC Sport. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.