LIST | Five great Zimbabwe-born players who represented other nations

The Zimbabwe-born flanker, who was capped 83 times over an 11-year Wallabies career, retired in October 2020. Already well-known for his activism on social justice and environmental issues, the 32-year-old will now dedicate his time to conservation.

He was born in Zimbabwe and qualified for South Africa on residency grounds, before later acquiring South African citizenship.

The 34-year-old, nicknamed "Beast", is the Springboks third most capped player in history, having played 117 Tests since his debut in 2008. In the 2019 World Cup final Mtawarira helped the Boks dominate England in the scrum.

Famed for speeding past Bryan Habana at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the USA speedster is another example of a quality player born in Zimbabwe. The oldest of three boys, Ngwenya first played rugby in Zimbabwe for the Mashonaland Club and for Vainona High School before moving to the USA, where he'd go onto star for the national team for a decade between 2006 and 2016, winning 41 caps across all formats.

A relative unknown when he arrived at Sandy Park in 2013, the Zimbabwean-born forward has quickly forged himself as a proven force within the English and European game.

On the international front, Armand was one of five Exeter players to tour South Africa in the summer of 2016 with the England Saxons, before he gained his first England cap a year later, coming off the bench in England’s victory over Argentina. He's since won one further cap.

Evans was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and educated at Wellington College, Berkshire. He earned his first cap for the Scottish rugby union side in June 2008 vs Argentina. Evans' rugby career ended aged 24 on his tenth appearance for Scotland when he suffered a serious neck injury.

DID YOU KNOW? He is currently dating Nicole Scherzinger