Sintu Manjezi

Sintu Manjezi
Date of birth (1995-04-07) 7 April 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthEast London, South Africa
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5+12 in)
Weight114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
SchoolSt. Andrew's College, Grahamstown
UniversityNelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock / Flanker
Current team Glasgow Warriors
Youth career
2011–2016 Eastern Province Kings
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 Eastern Province Kings 15 (5)
2016 Southern Kings 2 (0)
2017–2018 Griquas 21 (0)
2018–2020 Cheetahs 25 (15)
2019 Free State Cheetahs 8 (0)
2020–2022 Bulls 6 (0)
2020–2022 Blue Bulls 7 (0)
2022–2024 Glasgow Warriors 23 (5)
2024- Bulls 0 (0)
Correct as of 20 November 2022

Sintu Manjezi (born 7 April 1995 in East London, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup.[1] His regular position is lock or blindside flanker.

Rugby career

2011–13: Under-16 and Under-18 rugby

Manjezi played rugby for his secondary school, St. Andrew's College in Grahamstown, playing for the first team between 2011 and 2013, captaining the side in 2013.[2]

He earned his first provincial selection in 2011, when he represented the Eastern Province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week held in Queenstown. He started all three of their matches and scored a try in their game against SWD Eagles.[3] After the tournament, he was included in a South African Under-16 High Performance squad.[4]

In 2012, despite still being in the Under-17 age group, he was selected to represent Eastern Province Country Districts at the premier schools tournament in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, held in Port Elizabeth, starting a 28–27 victory over Griquas Country Districts.[5] He returned to the 2013 edition of the tournament held in Polokwane. He started three matches and scored tries against the Leopards[6] and Limpopo Blue Bulls.[7]

2014–: Under-19, Under-21 and Currie Cup rugby

In 2014, he joined the Eastern Province academy; he was included in the Eastern Province U19 squad that participated in Group A of the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship for the first time following promotion from Group B at the end of 2013. He immediately established himself as a key player for the team and started all twelve of their matches in the number five jersey. He helped them to sixth position on the log, winning four of their twelve matches.

He didn't play any rugby in 2015, but, following serious financial problems at the Eastern Province Kings at the end of the 2015 season which saw a number of first team regulars leave the union,[8] Manjezi was among a number of youngsters that were promoted to the squad that competed in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series,[9] also being named vice-captain of the team.[10] He was named in the starting lineup for their first match of the season against the SWD Eagles,[11] playing the entire 80 minutes of a 14–37 defeat.[12]

In July, Manjezi was drafted into the Southern Kings Super Rugby squad and named on the bench for their Round Sixteen match against the Lions.[13]

Honours

  • Currie Cup winner 2020–21
  • United Rugby Championship winner [2023-24]
  • Super Rugby Unlocked [2021]

Cricket

In addition to playing rugby, Manjezi also played cricket at youth provincial level, representing the Eastern Province Under-19 team in 2012 and 2013.[14]

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Sintu Manjezi". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Captain's profile: Sintu Manjezi". Rugby365. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – SWD 12–34 EP". South African Rugby Union. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. ^ "SARU announce names of South Africa u16 High Performance Squad". Rugby15. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Griquas CD 27–28 EP CD". South African Rugby Union. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province CD 35–10 Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Limpopo Blue Bulls 36–39 Eastern Province CD". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Kings facing player exodus?". Rugby365. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  9. ^ "SA Rugby Squad – EP Kings : 2016 Currie Cup Qualifying". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Tough clash against SWD". Herald Live. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  11. ^ "EP Kings team announced for SWD Eagles match". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – EP Kings 14–37 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Three new Kings players to make Super Rugby debut" (Press release). Southern Kings. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  14. ^ "ESPN CricInfo Player Profile : Sintu Manjezi". ESPN CricInfo. Retrieved 11 April 2016.