Maxime Mbanda

Maxime Mbanda
	Mbanda in 2017
Full name	Mata Maxime Mbanda
Date of birth	10 April 1993 (age 31)
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
Position(s)
Position(s)	Flanker, Number 8
Current team	Colorno
Youth career
2002−2011	Amatori Milano
Senior career
Years	Team
2011−2012	Rugby Grande Milano
2012−2013	F.I.R. Academy
2013−2016	Calvisano
2015	→Zebre
2016−2022	Zebre
2022−	Colorno
	Correct as of 6 May 2022
International career
Years	Team
2013	Italy Under 20
2014−2015	Emerging Italy
2016−	Italy
	Correct as of 20 Mar 2021

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]

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.

External links

[1] "MERCATO BIANCOROSSO: L'HBS COLORNO INGAGGIA MAXIME MBANDA'" (in Italian). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.

[2] "Stagione 2015/16".

[3] "Irb Tblisi Cup 2014, la Rosa Che Affrontera' Il Torneo".

[4] "Italia Emerging: I 27 Azzurri per la Tblisi Cup".

[5] "La Terza Linea delle Zebre Rugby Maxime Mbanda' Scalda I Motori". 9 November 2018.

[6] "MAXIME MBANDÀ PUNTO FISSO DELLE ZEBRE RUGBY FINO AL 2023". 24 June 2021.

[7] "LE ZEBRE SALUTANO DODICI GIOCATORI CHE LASCIANO IL CLUB". Zebre Rugby (in Italian). 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.

[8] Palmer, Mark. "Maxime Mbanda offers sense of hope to Italy" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.

[9] "Italrugby, Conor O'shea Annuncia I 31 Giocatori Convocati per Il Mondiale".

[10] 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.

[11] "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.

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