Chawatama takes long route to top
Lovejoy Chawatama is enjoying every day of his career as a professional rugby player having made sacrifices as a student to get to the top.
The 30-year old London Irish tighthead prop, who last month signed a new contract with the club, did not come through an academy system but learned through playing and worked his way up through the leagues.
He arrived in Britain from Zimbabwe as a 15- year old having played rugby at school and while he was studying construction project management at the University of the West of England, represented English Students.
“I came through the hard way, playing from the age of 17 rather than training,” said Chawatama, who only made two appearances from the bench last season after tearing one calf muscle and then the other.
“Nothing has been given to me and I have worked hard to be where I am. I have played in South West 1, National Leagues 1, 2 and 3, the Championship, the Premiership and, this season, the Champions Cup. I took the long route and I would not change anything about that. It makes me appreciate where I am and I am still enjoying the ride.”
Chawatama has the distinction of playing for all three London exile clubs, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. He started out at Beckenham, where he now coaches having progressed to level three, and had a year with Rosslyn Park after converting to the front row from the back row.
“I signed for London Scottish while I was at university,” said Chawatama. “Every Monday, I would get up at 4am to drive to London and return the following day. When everyone went out on Wednesday nights, I would stay in because I had training the next day. Those sacrifices paid off and my lecturers were understanding because I was on a rugby scholarship. I would meet them to catch up on lectures and work online.”
Chawatama joined London Welsh in 2016 but the club collapsed after a ruinous second stint in the Premiership and he found himself completing his exiles' hat-trick at London Irish. “They saw something in me and since I have been here I have improved as a player and matured as a person,” he said. “I am fortunate to be where I am which is why I like to play with a smile on my face. Having come up through the system, I know there are so many who would love to be in my position.
“There is no point in not enjoying it. The Premiership is demanding and last season was frustrating. I tore one calf and then did the other in my second game back. My goal was to get back to where I was before which meant working hard, but with injuries you never know if it will happen again.”
Chawatama said there was one person he owed his success in rugby to – even though they used to battle it out on Sundays about whether he should play rugby or go to church.
“My mum emigrated from Zimbabwe for economic reasons,” he said. “She worked two or three jobs and sent me to private school. Everything she did was to set us up and I am so grateful for that. We had some fights on Sundays but I stood my ground. She is now into rugby and makes sure she watches our games on television if she cannot get there. I think she is proud of how it turned out.”
