Confirmed: When forgotten Bok Sbu Nkosi will join Cheetahs

Former World Cup-winning Springbok Sbu Nkosi has been in the rugby wilderness ever since leaving the Bulls last year, having been released in the wake of well-publicised off-field battles.

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.

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 on the backburner before eventually returning to action for the Bulls. Yet he was eventually released from the Pretoria-based side as he continued to battle with certain issues.

It’s been unclear whether Nkosi would eventually find the desire to revive his rugby career, but it was first reported by RugbyPass that he was hoping to secure a one-year contract with the Cheetahs to play in their Currie Cup campaign.

More details have now been provided by OFM Sport, with confirmation that Nkosi has not yet reported for training with the Cheetahs, but that a trial period could begin from the end of the month once everything is finalised.

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Cheetahs willing to offer Sbu Nkosi a ‘lifeline’

“There have been so many players that have been able revive their careers back here,” assistant coach Charl Strydom stated.

“It’s a place where some players pick up their careers again after some disappointments. It’s always been a case of players being able to get a new lease on their careers when they get here.

“Hopefully, we can help reach his potential again, because there is no doubt that he has got the pedigree.”

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THE WING, WHO HAS 16 SPRINGBOK CAPS, HAS BEEN OUT OF ACTION FOR SOME TIME

There had previously 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”.

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 for Sbu Nkosi.

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