KWT-born winger in greener pastures Golden Lions move
King William’s Town-born Sibahle “Rabz” Maxwane completed his switch to the Golden Lions from the Free State Cheetahs recently, bringing down the curtain on a successful three-year stay in Bloemfontein.
The 24-year-old’s stay in Free State was crowned by the Currie Cup triumph in 2019, but now he has decided to look for more challenges in Johannesburg.
“I have always thought highly of the Lions and love their brand of rugby,” he said.
“I’m talking in terms of the playing personnel as well as the freedom of rugby-playing style the coaches allow,” Maxwane added.
Having lost the likes of Tyrone Green, Ruhan Combrink, Madosh Tambwe and Sylvian Mahuza over the past year, the Lions found themselves a little thin out on the wings — something Maxwane admits played a role in his decision to join the union.
“Obviously as a player you look at those factors and chances of opportunities, but I honestly didn’t look that far.
“All I wanted was an opportunity to fight for a spot,” he said.
The Lions have also lost several established players in other crucial positions in the past year. The losses of Springboks Kwagga Smit, Malcom Marx and inspirational captain Warren Whiteley have left the Emirates Park outfit in a rebuilding phase, one Maxwane is well aware of and insists is not new to him.
“Yes, I feel like I am mentally strong and ready for it. I have been part of a building team before, which means I know what is required in it.
“All I can do is fully commit and do my best,” he said.
Going into a team with young, emerging players such as Vincent Tshituka, Hacjivah Dayimani, Gianni Lombard and Wandisile Simelane, Maxwane enters the “Lions’ den” in a position of already being one of the most experienced players.
But being a part of the team’s leadership group is admittedly not on top of the Dale College old boy’s immediate agenda.
He does, however, feel that the calibre of young players at the Lions would make the transition a smooth one for him, if required.
“I am sure all those players mentioned above know what is expected of them, so that should make things easier for me as they are in a position to help me settle into the team too, in the process.
“But all in all I’ll be taking things one step at a time,” he said.
Maxwane also pointed out that he had not yet been informed by the Lions coaching staff what they expected from him, as that would be done in person.
Maxwane is now poised for a return to Super Rugby, having played briefly in the tournament for the Vodacom Bulls in 2017.
“I am really excited for the new journey in a highly rated competition.
“I don’t feel as if I have anything to prove and I just want to enjoy my rugby,” he said.
Maxwane top-scored with 14 tries in the 2018/2019 PRO14 tournament for the Cheetahs.
Though he feels he has not played enough Super Rugby to be able to point out the key differences between the southern hemisphere tournament and the northern hemisphere’s PRO14, he does believe his best bet of replicating his try-scoring record at Super Rugby level is by enjoying his rugby.
This was something that earned him the PRO14 accolade in the first place and something he said he was definitely planning to do at the Lions.
He also has simple objectives for his time at the Lions: “I’ll be satisfied with more game time and the rest will fall into place,” he said.
It is perhaps no coincidence that talk of game time dominated the interview, as his sudden lack of it during his last year at the Cheetahs seemed to raise plenty of eyebrows.
That all culminated in the try machine not being offered a new contract by the union, a situation he declined to discuss.
He did, however, offer a short Instagram tribute to his former union, saying: “Thank you, Cheetahs rugby, I walk away a better man”.