Brian Shabangu
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Brian Shabangu
| image =
| fullname = Simphiwe Brian Shabangu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|04|11}}
| birth_place = Durban, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.75}}
| weight = {{convert|96|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Glenwood High School
| university = University of South Africa
| relatives =
| position = Flanker
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2004–2008
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| years1 = 2012–2013
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}
| apps1 = 26
| points1 = 20
| years2 = 2014–2018
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| apps2 = 43
| points2 = 35
| years3 = 2014
| clubs3 = → {{Rut|Falcons}}
| apps3 = 1
| points3 = 0
| amatyears1 = 2013
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|NMMU Madibaz}}
| amatapps1 = 6
| amatpoints1 = 5
| repyears1 = 2013
| repteam1 = South Africa President's XV
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| clubupdate = 16 July 2018
| repupdate = 17 June 2013
}}
Simphiwe Brian Shabangu (born 16 May 2013) is a South African rugby union player who last played for the {{Rut|Pumas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=35511 | name=Brian Shabangu | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is flanker.
Career
=Youth and Varsity rugby=
Shabangu came through the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} youth system, playing for their Under–16 team at the 2004 Grant Khomo Week, for the Under–18s at the 2005 Academy Week and for the Under–21 team in the 2008 Under-21 Provincial Championship.
At the start of 2013, Shabangu played Varsity Cup rugby for the {{Rut|NMMU Madibaz}}, who reached their first ever semi-final in this competition.
=Border Bulldogs=
Shabangu signed for the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} in time for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season and instantly became a regular in the senior side, making his debut in the first game of the season against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105021 | homeid=11771 | awayid=11751 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=46 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=29 June 2012 | date=1 July 2016}} and playing in all fourteen games of the season, starting thirteen of them.
Shabangu only played in two 2013 Vodacom Cup matches due to his Varsity Cup duties, but returned to the Bulldogs make a further ten appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division, scoring two tries.
=Pumas=
Shabangu left the Bulldogs at the end of the 2013 season to join Nelspruit-based side the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{cite web | url=http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More=Pumas%20en%20Luiperds%20kry%20Super%20by%20-%2013%20November%202013&FeatureID=21617&SectionID=39 | title=Pumas en Luiperds kry Super by | publisher=SupaRugby | date=13 November 2013 | accessdate=14 November 2013 | language=Afrikaans}} He was a member of the Pumas side that won the Vodacom Cup for the first time in 2015, beating {{Rut|Western Province}} 24–7 in the final.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3030244 | leagueid=2304 | title=Steval Pumas first-time Vodacom Cup champions – Final Review | date=31 May 2015 | accessdate=9 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609204339/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | url-status=dead | archivedate=9 June 2016}} Shabangu made nine appearances during the season, scoring two tries.
=Sevens and Representative rugby=
Shabangu also played some sevens rugby, playing for the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} sevens team in 2009 and 2010{{cite web | url=http://varsitycup.co.za/profile/player.php?id=668 | title=Varsity Cup Player Profile Brian Shabangu | work=Varsity Cup | accessdate=24 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230751/http://varsitycup.co.za/profile/player.php?id=668 | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=dead }} and captaining a South African Emerging Sevens team in the Safaricom Sevens tournament in 2011.{{cite web | url=http://www.blitzbokke.com/2011/11/shabangu-to-lead-sa-emerging-sevens-to-kenya/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033427/http://www.blitzbokke.com/2011/11/shabangu-to-lead-sa-emerging-sevens-to-kenya/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=4 March 2016 | title=Shabangu to lead SA Emerging Sevens to Kenya | work=Blitzbokke | date=1 November 2011 | accessdate=24 May 2013}}
In 2013, Shabangu was included in a South Africa President's XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup{{SA Rugby Article | id=1931694 | leagueid=1334 | title=SA President's XV selected for IRB Tblisi Cup | date=17 May 2013 | accessdate=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1931694&leagueid=1334 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607191225/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=1931694&leagueid=1334 | url-status=dead | archivedate=7 June 2016}} and won the tournament after winning all three matches.{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=2067589.html |title=SA President's XV win Tbilisi Cup |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=16 June 2013 |accessdate=17 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619064230/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid%3D2067589.html |archivedate=19 June 2013 }}