Gain insights into the life and experiences of Makazole Mapimpi, the rugby sensation

Gain insights into the life and experiences of Makazole Mapimpi, the rugby sensation

Kevin Omuya
February 24, 2024 at 11:47 AM

Rugby player Makazole Mapimpi is a living example of tenacity and determination; his rise to prominence with the Springboks is one of the most inspirational tales ever. Makazole Mapimpi represents the South African national team and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship as a professional rugby union player from South Africa.

Makazole Mapimpi's biography
South African rugby winger Makazole Mapimpi. Photo: @makazoli (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Table of Сontents:

With 17 tries in 23 Tests, Makazole has scored against every international team he has faced. His try in the World Cup Final made him the first South African to do so. He typically plays centre and wing. The winger competed for the victorious Springboks in the Rugby World Cups held in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.

Profile summary

Title

Details

Full name

Makazole Drex Mapimpi

Gender

Male

Date of birth

July 26, 1996

Place of birth

Tsholomnqa, Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa

Age

33 years old as of February 2024

Nationality

South African

Ethnicity

Black

Height

1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)

Weight

91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)

Education

Jim Mvabasa SS School, King William's Town

Profession

Professional rugby player

Position

Centre/winger

Current team

Sharks

Net worth

Unknown

Social media

Instagram, X(Twitter), TikTok

How old is Makazole Mapimpi?

The Sharks' winger was born on 26 July 1990 and is 33 years old as of 2024.

Makazole Mapimpi's biography
Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa poses for a portrait during the South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 Squad photocall on September 02, 2023, in Toulon, France. Photo: Alex Livesey
Source: Original

Where was Makazole Mapimpi born?

The Eastern Cape of South Africa's Mdantsane District is home to the small village of Tsholomnqa, where Mapimpi was born. He plays for the Sharks and resides in his house in Durban.

What is Makazole Mapimpi's height and weight?

The South African rugby player stands 1.84 m tall (6 ft 0 in). He weighs 92 kg (202.83 lb)

Makazole Mapimpi's biography

Makazole's father had abandoned the family years earlier, and he and his siblings were subsequently placed in the care of their grandmother. In a preview of the documentary that Sport24 has access to, Mapimpi claims that his father was not interested in him.

"I didn't know the guy. I only met him [a few] years back, the time I was playing for Southern Kings," Mapimpi recalls.
"I heard from people that he worked at a particular place and I thought, let me give him a chance to meet. We met in 2017.
"But I saw that he was not interested in [knowing] me. He was not even excited to see me."

What happened to Makazole Mapimpi's family?

Before being well-known for his rugby skills, the 33-year-old also suffered the deaths of his mother, older brother, and sister. His sister passed away from a neurological disease. Shortly afterward, electrical cords taunted his sibling.

What happened to Makazole Mapimpi?

Jesse Kriel substituted Mapimpi as he was sent for a head injury assessment. Coach Jacques Nienaber later revealed that Mapimpi had sustained "a blowout fracture of his cheekbone."

Mapimpi's injury in Rugby World Cup 2023
Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa looks dejected as he leaves the field, having suffered an injury during a Rugby World Cup France 2023 match in Marseille, France. Photo: Cameron Spencer
Source: Getty Images

Where is Makazole Mapimpi now?

Makazole was taken off the field following a collision with Tongan scrumhalf Augustine Pulu; the scrumhalf was only penalised. Director of Rugby for SA Rugby Rassie Erasmus expressed sadness over the winger's loss.

"It's sad that something like that happened. It was an accident. He has a fractured eye socket, a blow-out fracture. His eye is swollen and the cheekbone is also fractured I think. I think he's out for four to six weeks.”
"We will not just miss him as a brilliant rugby player but what he brings to the team. There is a lot of heart, a lot of honesty. He doesn't say a lot but when he says something everybody listens. He trains hard, communicates beautifully on the field while he is really quiet off the field. He never moans if he is not selected and helps the young boys who get selected.”

Is Makazole Mapimpi married?

Makazole Mapimpi is not dating right now. He has never mentioned being in a relationship or having a wife. Additionally, Mapimpi and Sasha de Sousa have been romantically connected.

Education

He went to King William's Town's Jim Mvabasa SS School in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Unlike many of his Springbok colleagues, he did not attend any prestigious rugby schools; thus, he was not in a position to be scouted for his skill.

Makazole Mapimpi's career

Mapimpi's career
Makazole Mapimpi of the Cell C Sharks during the Super Rugby match against Sunwolves at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on March 10, 2018, in Durban, South Africa. Photo: Steve Haag
Source: Getty Images

When the Rugby World Cup victor turned 27, he made his premier division rugby debut. In 14 outings, he scored 11 tries, displaying his class. He joined the Sharks after a year, then the Cheetahs, earning a position on the World Cup-bound Springbok squad. For now, Mapimpi is The Sharks' representative. Over fifty senior appearances in all senior tournaments have been made by him.

International career

At 27, Mapimpi earned his Springboks test debut against Wales in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 2018. With the guidance of Head Coach Rassie Erasmus and Backs Coach Mzwandile Stick, Mapimpi has developed into one of the Springboks' most prolific try scorers, nearly averaging a try every game.

World Cup debut

The South African team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan included Mapimpi. Under Siya Kolisi's direction, he was a vital squad member that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He scored six tries during the competition, including two in the 26–3 victory over Japan in the quarterfinals.

Mapimpi's World Cup debut
Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match against Romania at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 17, 2023, France. Photo: Lionel Hahn
Source: Getty Images

World Cup player of the match

He played in two matches during the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The first was the matchup with Romania, where he was named Player of the Match. Mapimpi was forced to miss the remaining games due to a head injury that resulted in a cheekbone fracture during the second match versus Tonga.

Makazole Mapimpi's awards

The try-scoring hero for the Cell C Sharks and Springbok has won prestigious prizes at the yearly Sharks Player of the Year Awards. The following is a breakdown of his achievements.

South Africa

  • 2019 Rugby Championship Winner
  • 2019 Rugby World Cup Japan Winner
  • 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa Winner
  • 2023 Rugby World Cup France Winner

Makazole Mapimpi's net worth

Makazole Mapimpi's sponsored boots
Makazole Mapimpi displays his sponsored boots and his car. Photo: @makazoli (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Makazole Mapimpi's net worth and earnings

Rugby players in South Africa are among the top-paid athletes in the nation since they are among the most in-demand globally. Their annual compensation runs from R500,000 to R10 million. Makazole's earnings and net worth are not disclosed, though.

Makazole Mapimpi's stats

In a game against Wales in Washington, DC, in June 2018, Makazole made his test debut for the Springboks. He scored six tries in the historic 2019 Rugby World Cup, which South Africa won.

He scored two touchdowns against the host country in the quarterfinals and one against England in the final. By achieving this, he made rugby history as the first player to score a try in a Springboks World Cup final since all of the team's prior victories had been achieved without the need for tries.

Final word

Due to his skill and diligence, Mapimpi was called up to the South African national team, the Springboks. When Mapimpi joined the Southern Kings in Super Rugby and the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup, he made a breakthrough.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.
Tags
South African Rugby Union (SARU)Rugby World Cup