Thomas du Toit credits his fiery ascent in the rugby world to none other than 'The Beast' Tendai Mtawarira, his former teammate and a true legend of the game. Joining the powerhouse ranks of the Bath and the Springboks, du Toit has carved his name as one of the top versatile props on the global stage. He revealed on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast how ‘The Beast’ inspired his journey to greatness right from their shared days at the Sharks.
“It fuels the fire. If you look at a guy like him, he’s one of the best to ever play the game especially on loosehead,” said du Toit, reflecting on the impact Mtawarira had on his career. Sharing the locker room with such an icon not only motivated him but also offered a firsthand look at what true dedication looks like. “I had the opportunity to play with him for a couple of years and I could always look at his work ethic and strive for that. He was a great role model.”
“I’ve been in this generation of Springbok players that have been the best that South Africa has ever produced, so I still take it as a massive compliment just being involved in the squad.”
Named in the World Rugby Dream Team last year, du Toit finds himself amongst titans of the sport, training alongside heavyweights like Frans Malherbe and Nche 'Ox'. “I was training with the likes of Frans Malherbe and Tendai and all the guys I’m playing with now – the likes of Ox [Nché], Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp – in my opinion it’s just the best generation of Springboks that we’ve produced. So just having my name mentioned among them, is already a huge compliment,” he added.
For du Toit, the recipe for staying relevant in Rassie Erasmus' plans is straightforward: unwavering commitment to the team's success. “My philosophy is I want to serve the team the best way I possibly can through working unbelievably hard and that needs to speak for itself,” he stated, encapsulating the ethos that keeps him pushing at the elite levels of rugby.
Clearly, the legacy of 'The Beast' lives on in the likes of Thomas du Toit, who continues to blaze his trail in the rugby world, fueled by the legends who paved the way.