Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TAPUWA CHABATA, a Zimbabwean based in the United Kingdom, will today set out to make history when he takes part in the 36-hour rugby marathon match in Mullingar, Ireland.
The match is aimed at breaking the record for the longest rugby match and raise funds for charity.
The current record stands at 30 hours, 29 minutes and 41 seconds for the men’s game and 24 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds for the women’s game. And the Mullingar event will be a continuous 36-hour rugby game, a feat equivalent to 27 normal matches.
It is part of a larger “Lions Week” in Dublin, leading up to the British & Irish Lions game against Argentina and is being organised by a team including Wooden Spoon, LooseHeadz, and the British & Irish Lions Trust. They aim to raise over £100,000 for the charities and involve a large number of players, with the organisers seeking 92 players to make history.
“Rugby has given me unforgettable memories, friendships, and values,” said Chabata.
“I intend to raise the Zimbabwe flag high during this challenge and I am confident of a conquest. I also want to give something back by using this sport to support people and communities who need it most,” he said.
Born in Mount Darwin, Chabata fell in love with rugby at Chaplin High School in Gweru after which he later became the first captain of the Zimbabwe Universities and Colleges team.
He served in the army from 1993 to 2000 and relocated to the United Kingdom, where he has since been based.
Since then, he has been playing rugby socially with his most recent club being Egham Hollowegians Rugby Club.
With rugby having been a central part of his life, Chabata hopes to use the match to raise funds for three life-changing charities — LooseHeadz, Wooden Spoon, and The British & Irish Lions Trust.
He will be joined by 92 men and women pushing themselves to the limit for a shared cause that goes beyond the game.
LooseHeadz aims at tackling the stigma around mental health in rugby by supporting clubs with free mental fitness resources.
Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby. They raise funds to fund vital projects for young people living with disabilities or who are disadvantaged. The British & Irish Lions Trust assists former Lions players in need and keeps the Lions spirit alive in communities across the UK and Ireland.
“This isn’t just about breaking a record; it’s about breaking barriers and stigma around mental health in sport.
“We hope to support disadvantaged children and families in the community,” he said.
