Beast lands in the US

Maria Sanhanga

Tendai Mtawarira says he wants to be a rugby ambassador in the United States where he will soon be doing duty for Washington’s new Major League Rugby franchise, Old Glory.

The Zimbabwean born rugby World Cup winner will join Old Glory for the 2020 season and Mtawarira wants to do much more than just play rugby.

The move to Washington was facilitated by Kyros Sports.

“I want to go to a place where I can make a meaningful impact, and from what I heard, there’s a lot of African American kids in D.C.,” is quoted as saying by the Washington Post.

“I want to come out and be a role model and teach them a lot about my game.”

Clearly it’s not about the money for the man popularly known as the Beast as at 34 he still has some several years of top flight rugby still left him.

Mtawarira was once linked to Gloucester in the English Premiership but told The Guardian that being part of something new excited him much more that joining one of the best league’s in the world.

“…the US excited me very much, above going to France [or England]. Yes, the money’s big in France and big in Europe but I wanted to be part of something that might contribute to my legacy.

“Coming to America excited me the most. The league is still young and for me to be part of something that is still brand new and to be a mentor to young rugby players, that really excited me. I want to give back a lot more because I was given a hell of a lot from the game. It changed my life, literally,” said Mtawarira.