Forgotten Springbok Sbu Nkosi set for shock local move

Former World Cup-winning Springbok Sbu Nkosi has been in limbo ever since leaving the Bulls last year, which came amidst various personal troubles.

This traces back to when the wing disappeared without any word in December 2022, before eventually being found after a worrying search. Nkosi ultimately revealed he had been contending with severe mental health battles after going missing for a few weeks once again.

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Previous attempts to assist him in finding help for mental health issues seemingly hadn’t worked out as hoped, and his once flourishing rugby career was somewhat put aside before eventually returning to action for the Bulls.

However, some concerns were flagged once again after Nkosi apparently “came and went” from training without any communication, and ultimately he was released by the Bulls.

According to RugbyPass, he is now set to start training with the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs this week, and if all goes well, he could aim to secure a one-year contract to play in their Currie Cup campaign.

Sbu Nkosi, who has 16 Springbok caps, has been out of action for some time

There has been no clarity on the next move in Nkosi’s career, but interestingly in a recent social media post he stated that his “mind is on the next move” and that his “heart is in the 031”, which is the code for Durban.

Nkosi, who formed part of the Springboks’ World Cup winning team in 2019, featured for the World XV in a friendly at Twickenham against the Barbarians in May last year, but there was no clarity on where he would head next after his turbulent time at the Bulls came to an end.

Back in June, his agent Anthony Johnson said he was in need of a “fresh start”: “He just wants a new place to play his rugby, a fresh start and a different mindset,” Johnson said at the time.

“He enjoyed his little stint with the Barbarians, which invigorated his desire to play rugby. He thoroughly enjoyed that, a different way of doing things and a different mindset. That’s what he’s looking for.”

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No word on his playing future

With Nkosi seemingly taking an indefinite break from the game, it was thought that perhaps he could find an opportunity at a side such as the Cheetahs, Pumas or Griquas, or possibly find a club overseas.

Interestingly, Cheetahs have now emerged as that potential destination.

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Highly talented player

The powerful wing featured in 16 Tests for the Springboks, but has not featured for the national side since 2021.

Last year, Rassie Erasmus said he hoped Sbu Nkosi stays in South Africa to work his way into the Springbok reckoning once again.

“Looking at his age and how well he played for us, we just hope that we can see him somewhere as soon as possible to make himself a contender again and we [can] start comparing him to other players,” said Erasmus as the Boks continued their preparations for the opening match of the Rugby Championship against Australia at Loftus next weekend. 

“Hopefully he stays in South Africa because that will be fantastic. If he goes abroad to the French Top 14 or he goes to Japan, the nice thing is that we have worked with him and we can follow how he is doing. 

“I never talk about players’ personal lives and I also don’t know the insides of what is going on there, but we just hope that as soon as possible we can see him somewhere.  That will allow us to judge or rate him against the guys who are playing in the Springboks team on Saturday.” 

It shouldn’t be forgotten that Nkosi also has a massive passion for music, having previously released a rap song called “Off the Clock”, under the stage name of Lawd Odin.

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