Sylvian Mahuza
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Sylvian Mahuza
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|07|29}}
| birth_place = George, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Outeniqua High School, George
| university = North-West University
| relatives =
| position = Winger / Fullback / Centre
| currentclub = {{Rut|Shizuoka Blue Revs}}
| youthyears1 = 2009–2011
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}
| youthyears2 = 2012–2013
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| years1 = 2013–2014
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| apps1 = 14
| points1 = 75
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps2 = 7
| points2 = 10
| years3 = 2016–2019
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}
| apps3 = 8
| points3 = 26
| years4 = 2016–2019
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Lions}}
| apps4 = 37
| points4 = 65
| years5 = 2016–2018
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| apps5 = 21
| points5 = 50
| years6 = 2020–2023
| clubs6 = {{Rut|NTT Shining Arcs}}
| apps6 = 7
| points6 = 10
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Shizuoka Blue Revs
| apps7 =
| points7 =
| amatyears1 = 2013–14, 2016
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}
| amatapps1 = 23
| amatpoints1 = 84
| repyears1 = 2013
| repteam1 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps1 = 1
| reppoints1 = 5
| clubupdate = 21 February 2021
| repupdate = 21 May 2018
}}
Sylvian Mahuza (born {{birth date|df=yes|1993|07|29}}) is a South African professional rugby union player.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=49083 | name=Sylvian Mahuza | date=29 May 2016}} He can play as a winger, centre or fullback.
Career
=Youth and Varsity Cup rugby=
In 2009, he was called up to represent the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} Under-16 side at the Grant Khomo Week competition. In 2010 and 2011, he played for their Under-18 side at the Craven Week tournament.
After high school in 2012, however, he moved to Potchefstroom, where he got involved in the youth setup of the provincial side, the {{Rut|Leopards}}, as well as playing rugby for Varsity Cup side {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}.
Mahuza made eleven appearances in the {{Rut|Leopards U19}} team during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship season, scoring three tries. In 2013, he played four matches in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, which included a match against {{Rut|Border U21}} in which he scored two tries.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110474 | homeid=15254 | awayid=15284 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=26 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=26 July 2013 | date=27 April 2016}}
In the Varsity Cup competition, he played six matches for the {{Rut|NWU Pukke}} during the 2013 Varsity Cup competition, scoring two tries. He made eight appearances during the 2014 edition of the competition and ran in six tries (making him the second top try scorer in the competition) as the NWU Pukke reached the final.{{SA Rugby Try Scorers | id=1694 | comp=2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=5 May 2016}}
=South Africa Under-20=
Mahuza was also included in the South Africa Under-20 side that played against their Argentinean counterparts prior to the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship,{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Baby-Boks-beaten-by-Pumas-20130417 | title=Baby Boks beaten by Pumas | publisher=Sport24 | date=17 April 2014 | accessdate=21 July 2014}} but failed to make the final squad for the tournament.
=Leopards=
Mahuza's first involvement in first team action came during the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season. He made his debut against the {{Rut|Falcons}}, playing off the bench and scoring his first try within ten minutes of appearing.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106414 | homeid=12714 | awayid=12744 | leagueid=1304 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=50 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=5 July 2013 | date=27 April 2016}} He made two further substitute appearances against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106434 | homeid=12684 | awayid=12714 | leagueid=1304 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=18 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=12 July 2013 | date=27 April 2016}} and {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106474 | homeid=12714 | awayid=12694 | leagueid=1304 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=27 | awayscore=35 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=19 July 2013 | date=27 April 2016}}
Mahuza's next taste of first class action came during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament. He started in five of their matches during the competition. Prior to the last round of matches, he was the joint-top try scorer in the league, with a brace of tries against the {{Rut|Griffons}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119534 | homeid=18024 | awayid=18044 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=70 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=5 July 2014 | date=27 April 2016}} and the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119414 | homeid=18024 | awayid=18034 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=51 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=7 June 2014 | date=27 April 2016}} and one each against {{Rut|Griquas}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119494 | homeid=18064 | awayid=18024 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=GWK Griquas | homescore=33 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=21 June 2014 | date=27 April 2016}} and {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119564 | homeid=18054 | awayid=18024 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Boland | homescore=23 | awayscore=55 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=12 July 2014 | date=27 April 2016}} putting him on a total of six tries. In their last match of the competition against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}, Mahuza and teammate Luther Obi, who was also on six tries for the season before the match – scored four tries each to help the Leopards to a 103–15 victory,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119594 | homeid=18024 | awayid=18074 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=103 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=19 July 2014 | date=27 April 2016}} which also meant that Mahuza and Obi finished the competition as joint-top try scorers, with ten tries apiece.{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1774 | comp=2014 Absa Currie Cup Qualifiers | date=5 May 2016}}
=Eastern Province Kings=
In February 2015, Mahuza – along with fellow {{Rut|Leopards}} winger Luther Obi – started training with Port Elizabeth-based side the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}, following a dispute about the validity of their contracts with the {{Rut|Leopards}}.{{cite press release | url=http://www.eprugby.co.za/official-statement-on-luther-obi-and-sylvian-mahuza/ | title=Official Statement on Luther Obi and Sylvian Mahuza | publisher=Eastern Province Rugby | date=2 February 2015 | access-date=2 February 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202185440/http://www.eprugby.co.za/official-statement-on-luther-obi-and-sylvian-mahuza/ | archive-date=2 February 2015 | df=dmy-all }} An agreement was reached and Mahuza officially joined the Kings on 27 February.{{cite press release | url=http://www.eprugby.co.za/kings-secure-services-of-obi-and-mahuza/ | title=Kings secure services of Obi and Mahuza | publisher=Eastern Province Rugby | date=27 February 2015 | access-date=27 February 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227162207/http://www.eprugby.co.za/kings-secure-services-of-obi-and-mahuza/ | archive-date=27 February 2015 | df=dmy-all }} He made his debut for the EP Kings by starting their first match of the 2015 Vodacom Cup season, a 19–27 defeat to defending champions {{Rut|Griquas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140304 | homeid=24414 | awayid=24624 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=EP Kings | homescore=19 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=21 March 2015 | date=27 April 2016}} After just one season at the Kings, Mahuza left prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/ep-rugby-statement-2/ | title=EP Rugby Statement | work=Rugby15 | date=16 November 2015 | access-date=16 November 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117064123/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/11/ep-rugby-statement-2/ | archive-date=17 November 2015 | df=dmy-all }}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{NTT Communications Shining Arcs squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahuza, Sylvian}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from George, South Africa
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Leopards (rugby union) players
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players
Category:Urayasu D-Rocks players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan