Maxime Mbanda
Mata Maxime Esuite Mbanda Cavaliere OMRI (born 10 April 1993) is an Italian international rugby union player. His usual position is as a flanker, and he currently plays for Colorno. Known for his ball carrying and athleticism.[1]
 Mbanda in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Mata Maxime Mbanda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 10 April 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early career
For 2015–16 Pro12 season, he named as Permit Player for Zebre in Pro 14.[2]
In 2013 Mbanda was named in the Italy Under 20 squad and in 2014 and 2015 he was also named to the Emerging Italy squad.[3][4]
Professional career
In 2016, from Calvisano, he signed for Zebre in Pro 14. He played for Italian team until 2021–22 United Rugby Championship season.[5][6][7] After a string of favourable performances, the No. 8, was selected to represent, the Italian national team in a test-match in San Jose, California, during Summer International tests against the United States. Italy won with a result of 24 to 20.[8] Since then Mbanda has been a regular in the Italian national side, featuring in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in Japan.[9]
Personal life
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Mbanda volunteered for the Yellow Cross, a humanitarian organization in Parma that transports food and medicine for the elderly.[10] On 3 June 2020 the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella named Mbanda a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his services as a volunteer ambulance driver.[11]
References
- "MERCATO BIANCOROSSO: L'HBS COLORNO INGAGGIA MAXIME MBANDA'" (in Italian). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- "Stagione 2015/16".
- "Irb Tblisi Cup 2014, la Rosa Che Affrontera' Il Torneo".
- "Italia Emerging: I 27 Azzurri per la Tblisi Cup".
- "La Terza Linea delle Zebre Rugby Maxime Mbanda' Scalda I Motori". 9 November 2018.
- "MAXIME MBANDÀ PUNTO FISSO DELLE ZEBRE RUGBY FINO AL 2023". 24 June 2021.
- "LE ZEBRE SALUTANO DODICI GIOCATORI CHE LASCIANO IL CLUB". Zebre Rugby (in Italian). 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- Palmer, Mark. "Maxime Mbanda offers sense of hope to Italy" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- "Italrugby, Conor O'shea Annuncia I 31 Giocatori Convocati per Il Mondiale".
- Baber, Andy (24 March 2020). "Italy flanker Mbanda on frontline in Covid-19 fight". sixnationsrugby.com. Six Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- "Mbanda nominato cavaliere della Repubblica dal presidente Mattarella" [Mbanda awarded the knighthood by President Mattarella]. federugby.it (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.