Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Mtawarira made his name playing for Natal and the Sharks earning the nickname 'The Beast' due to his physical approach to the game.

He was rewarded with an international call-up in 2008 and made his Springboks debut in the 37-21 victory over Wales in Pretoria. His second cap came the following weekend against Italy in Cape Town where he scored his first international try on his way to the man of the match honour.

He enjoyed his best game in Springboks colours in the first Test of the British & Irish Lions tour the following year when his powerful scrummaging forced his experienced opposing prop Phil Vickery to be substituted after 45 minutes. He started all three Tests as the Springboks won the series 2-1.

Despite the fact he has qualified for South Africa by completing the three year residency criteria, Mtawarira remains a Zimbabwean national. And that fact caused controversy in 2009 when the South African sports ministry claimed that Mtawarira was not actually qualified to represent the Springboks due to the fact he was not citizen of the country.

SA Rugby defended his selection insisting he had been granted an "exceptional skills" visa and continued to select him during the Springboks' end of year tour of Europe but the debate surrounding his selection continued into 2010.