Humble and passionate, 23 year-old-Eastern Cape born Sinethemba Mapaqa grew up playing cricket until he was in grade 11, when he realized his passion for rugby.

Mapaqa played amateur rugby in Khayelitsha, Langa and Kuilsriver before making it to the Western Province level. He was invited by the scout master Jerome Pavata to try at the Western Province.

“Jerome invited me to train with the amateurs and I agreed. After I was selected in the trials, I joined the Western Province sevens since 2010 and I am still there,” stressed Mapaqa whose being in the premier division level is a dream come true as it is not easy to make it in the professional rugby world especially if you come from a disadvantaged community like Khayelitsha.

He is originally from Alice in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape. He moved to Cape Town a couple of years ago.

Mapaqa is currently training in the Currie Cup and hasn’t gotten game time yet but he hopes to make it in the first team, “I’m hoping to get game time. I’m taking care of my self; I don’t drink so my focus is on rugby”

He quit school (College of cape Town) because of his passion for rugby and focused on his game. Juggling the two was quite a challenge for him. “I had to be at college and at the same time at training and I couldn’t take it. So I decided to take a break for now and I’ll go back when I have time,” he adds.

His dream is to see himself on the first team, “I wish to play on senior team (Stormers and Western Province ) with the big guys and to get a better team to sign with”.

Fast facts about Sinethemba Mapaqa

Favourite player in the Western Cape: Jean De Villiers

Favourite food: Spaghetti

Phone: Blackberry

He prefers Australia over New Zealand