Ian Fihlani Explained

Ian Fihlani
Birth Place:Tsholomnqa, South Africa
Position:Winger
Provinceyears1:1998–07
Repsevensyears1:2001–03
Repsevensteam1:South Africa

Ian Fihlani is a South African former international rugby union player.

Fihlani comes from Tsholomnqa, a small, rural Eastern Cape village, that is also the birthplace of Springbok Makazole Mapimpi. He was playing with Sunday league team Home Boys when he got scouted to join the Gert Smal-coached Border in 1998. A winger, Fihlani is believed to have scored over 100 tries for Border, but is listed as having crossed 35 times in official matches.[1] He made a Sharks training camp in 2001, with only his inability to speak English costing him a Super 12 place, according to SARFU CEO Mveleli Ncula.[2] In 2002, Fihlani was a member of the South Africa rugby sevens team which claimed a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Bok-ready Bulldog who was fed to the sharks . . 22 March 2019 . en-ZA.
  2. News: Fihlani Family Upset Over Ncula's Comments Dumile Meintjies . East Cape News . allafrica.com . 16 January 2002.
  3. News: Chester wants Bok revenge in Manchester . . 30 July 2002.