Stairs Mhlongo

Stairs Mhlongo
Personal information
Full name Sthembiso Santo Mhlongo
Nickname Stairs
Born (1987-05-13) 13 May 1987
Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Height 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight 114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
School(s) attended Siyahlomula High School
University University of Pretoria
Club information
Playing position Lock
Current club Leopards
Amateur team(s)
Years Team
2011–2012 UP Tuks 11 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Pts)†
2013 Border Bulldogs 9 (5)
2014–2015 Leopards XV 8 (10)
2014–present Leopards 26 (5)

* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 9 October 2016.

† Appearances (Points).

Sthembiso Santo 'Stairs' Mhlongo (born 13 May 1987 in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Leopards.[1] His regular position is lock.

Career

Youth and Varsity rugby

Mhlongo was part of the Sharks Academy, but failed to represent them at any level. Instead, he moved to Pretoria in 2011, where he was part of the UP Tuks side that participated in and reached the final of the 2011 Varsity Cup competition. His participation was limited however, making just three substitute appearances. He once again played for them in the 2012 Varsity Cup tournament, which saw UP Tuks win the title for the first time. Mhlongo also saw more game time in 2012, appearing in every single match from the second round onwards. He scored one try (in their final regular season match against the UCT Ikey Tigers)[2] and also played the final twenty minutes of the final, where the Pretoria side triumphed 29–21 against a Maties side that previously won the first three editions of the competition.[3]

Border Bulldogs

In 2013, he moved to East London, joining the Border Bulldogs for the 2013 Currie Cup First Division competition.[4] He got involved in first team action straight away, making his first class debut in the opening match of the season, a 12–36 home loss to the SWD Eagles.[5] He started in eight of the Bulldogs' matches during the competition, also scoring one try against the Falcons in his fourth match.[6]

Mhlongo was one of several players released by the Border Bulldogs at the end of the 2013 as their financial troubles intensified[7] and them eventually declared bankrupt.[8]

Leopards

He moved to Potchefstroom for the 2014 Vodacom Cup campaign to join the Leopards.[9] He started six of their seven matches during the competition, scoring tries in their matches against the Limpopo Blue Bulls[10] and the Griffons.[11]

He was a member of the Leopards team that won the 2015 Currie Cup First Division.[12] He featured in a total of ten matches during the 2015 Currie Cup qualification rounds and First Division proper. However, he didn't feature in the final, where the Leopards beat the SWD Eagles 44–20 to win the competition for the first time in their history.

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Stairs Mhlongo". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Match Breakdown: UCT vs Tuks". South African Rugby Union. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Tuks vs Maties". South African Rugby Union. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Squad – Border Bulldogs : 2013 Absa Currie Cup First Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Border Bulldogs vs SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Border crisis hits players hard". SA Rugby Mag. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bankrupt BRFU can't pay staff". Daily Dispatch. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "SA Rugby Squad – Leopards XV : 2014 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Leopards XV". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Down Touch Griffons vs Leopards XV". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Leopards clinch Absa Currie Cup First Division title in style". South African Rugby Union. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
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