Full name Takudzwa Ngwenya
Born
July 22, 1985, Harare
Current age 38 years 279 days
Major teams Barbarians, Biarritz, Brive, United States of America
Position Wing
Height
5 ft 10 in
Weight 187 lb
|
Span | Mat | Start | Sub | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | Won | Lost | Draw | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Tests | 2007-2016 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 65 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 30.55 |
IRB Rugby World Cup | 2007-2015 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 10 |
Test debut | England v United States of America at Lens, Sep 8, 2007 match details |
Last Test | United States of America v Italy at San Jose, Jun 18, 2016 match details |
Test Statsguru | Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list |
Blessed with the kind of blistering pace which has to be seen to be believed, Takudzwa Ngwenya is one of the most feared wingers in rugby.
Few people had heard of the Zimbabwe-born United States international when he arrived at the 2007 World Cup France as a fresh-faced 22-year-old amateur. However, Ngwenya was the name on everyone's lips after he lit up the tournament by doing something nobody thought possible - outpacing South Africa winger Bryan Habana. During the first half of the US Eagles' Pool A clash with the Springboks in Montpellier, Ngwenya sensationally burned Habana on the outside after picking up possession wide on the right wing.
Given that he had already embarrassed Samoa's Alesana Tuilagi in similar circumstances earlier in the tournament, it was hardly surprising that Europe's top clubs immediately set about trying to sign the America. He was heavily linked with a move to the Guinness Premiership but Ngwenya eventually decided upon a move to Top 14 outfit Biarritz.
He has excelled in France and strengthened his claims as the game's quickest winger by scoring a stunning 80-metre try in Biarritz's Heineken Cup quarter-final win over the Ospreys in April, 2010, leaving former IRB World Player of the Year Shane Williams trailing in his wake as he did so.
Ngwenya failed to find his worldclass form throughout the 2011 World Cup but arrived back at Biarritz to find his side struggling in the Top 14. But armed with his ridiculous pace, Ngwenya was one of the huge positives for the Basque side from their Heineken Cup campaign. He scored a breathtaking try against Saracens before running in a hat-trick in their final clash of the Pool stages against the Ospreys.
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