Chabata Takes On Guinness Record In 36-Hour Rugby Marathon For Charity
IRELAND – Former Zimbabwe rugby international Tapuwa Chabata is taking part in a Guinness World Record attempt for the Longest Rugby Match Ever Played, joining 91 others in a gruelling 36-hour charity game underway at Mullingar RFC in Ireland.
The match kicked off this morning and runs through Thursday, with players rotating nonstop to break the current men’s record of 30 hours and 29 minutes and the women’s mark of 24 hours and 5 minutes.
The event also serves as a high-impact fundraiser, targeting over £100,000 for three organisations:
LooseHeadz, which promotes mental fitness in rugby, Wooden Spoon, which funds projects for children with disabilities and The British & Irish Lions Trust, which supports retired players.
Chabata (53) told The Herald the record attempt carried deep personal meaning beyond the sporting challenge.
“I am here to raise the Zimbabwean flag and prove that sport can drive real change — in mental health, in children’s lives and in forgotten communities,” he said.
His personal fundraising goal is £1,500 and he views every minute on the pitch as a stand for something far beyond the try line.
Born in Mount Darwin, Chabata discovered rugby at Chaplin High School in Gweru. He captained the first Zimbabwe Universities and Colleges team and served in the Zimbabwe National Army from 1993 to 2000 before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he continues to mentor and promote rugby at community level.
“This marathon isn’t just about physical limits. It’s about breaking stigma, lifting up struggling families and making mental health visible in our sport. That’s a record worth chasing,”
he added.
The match ends Thursday evening, with hopes that the final whistle will mark not just a world record — but lasting impact through sport.
