Maxime Mbanda

Mata Maxime Esuite Mbanda Cavaliere OMRI (born 10 April 1993) is an Italian international rugby union player. His usual position is as a flanker, and he currently plays for Colorno. Known for his ball carrying and athleticism.^[1]

Maxime Mbanda

Mbanda in 2017
Full name	Mata Maxime Mbanda
Date of birth	(1993-04-10) 10 April 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth	Rome, Italy
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8 Current team Colorno Youth career 2002−2011 Amatori Milano Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011−2012 Rugby Grande Milano () 2012−2013 F.I.R. Academy () 2013−2016 Calvisano 40 (20) 2015 →Zebre 4 (0) 2016−2022 Zebre 71 (35) 2022− Colorno () Correct as of 6 May 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013 Italy Under 20 8 (20) 2014−2015 Emerging Italy 6 (5) 2016− Italy 29 (10) Correct as of 20 Mar 2021

Early career

For 2015–16 Pro12 season, he named as Permit Player for Zebre in Pro 14.^[2]

In 2013, Mbanda was named in the Italy Under 20 squad and in 2014 and 2015, he was also named to the Emerging Italy squad.^[3][4]

Professional career

In 2016, from Calvisano, he signed for Zebre in Pro 14. He played for Italian team until 2021–22 United Rugby Championship season.^[5][6][7] After a string of favourable performances, the No. 8, was selected to represent, the Italian national team in a test-match in San Jose, California, during Summer International tests against the United States. Italy won with a result of 24 to 20.^[8] Since then Mbanda has been a regular in the Italian national side, featuring in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in Japan.^[9]

Personal life

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Mbanda volunteered for the Yellow Cross, a humanitarian organization in Parma that transports food and medicine for the elderly.^[10] On 3 June 2020, the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella named Mbanda a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his services as a volunteer ambulance driver.^[11]