John Mametsa

Who is John Mametsa?

John Mgwensi Mametsa is a South African rugby union player, the first black South African to have appeared in 100 Currie Cup games.

Starting as a junior with the Gauteng franchise the Vodacom Blue Bulls in 2001, Mametsa has since appeared for the Bulls in the Vodacom Cup, the Currie Cup, and the Super 14 series, usually on the wing.

Making his Currie Cup debut in 2002, Mametsa was named Currie Cup player of the year in 2003. During his 100th game against the Lions at Ellis Park Stadium on 21 June 2008, he scored three tries for the Bulls, and went on to score the most tries by any Bulls player that year. He was part of the Blue Bulls team that won the Currie Cup in 2003 and 2004, and that shared the trophy with the Vodacom Cheetahs in 2006.

In 2008 he made his debut in the Super 14 series, winning 3 caps, having previously played in the 2004 Super 12 competition.

On 18 October 2008, one week prior to the Absa Currie Cup final in which he was to play on the losing side against the Natal Sharks, Mametsa was assaulted by traffic police and arrested for seven hours.