Banned Springbok admits to missing game

Sbu Nkosi, who has 16 Springbok caps to his name and was part of the squad that lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2019, has once again found himself on the sidelines, this time for a very different reason.

The talented wing went from lifting the Webb Ellis Cup to battling severe mental health issues and then facing a career-threatening suspension.

Nkosi first burst onto the professional scene with the Sharks, quickly earning a reputation as an unstoppable finisher on the wing, before making an explosive Test debut against England at Ellis Park, scoring two tries in a dramatic 42–39 victory.

By 2021, Nkosi had accumulated 16 Test caps and nine tries for the Springboks, standing at the summit of world rugby.

Rise and fall of Springbok star Sbu Nkosi

In 2022, Nkosi secured a high-profile move from Durban to Pretoria to join the Bulls. However, personal challenges quickly overshadowed his achievements on the pitch.

In November 2022, Nkosi went missing for three weeks without contacting family, teammates, or management. The Bulls opened a missing person case with the South African Police Service, but he was eventually located safe at his father’s home in Mpumalanga, where he opened up about suffering severe severe mental pressure and depression.

Although he returned briefly to play for the Bulls in early 2023, his time there never worked out amidst criticism from then coach Jake White about his unexplained and erratic absences from training.

Brief career ‘lifeline’

Former Springbok teammate Frans Steyn – serving as Director of Rugby at the Free State Cheetahs – offered Nkosi a fresh start with a one-year deal in March 2024.

Yet, in another twist, during an out-of-competition World Rugby test in May 2024, he tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Subsequently, a three-year ban was handed down to the winger, who is now 30 years old.

Unable to train with or play for any professional team or organised union, the former World Cup winner remains sidelined during what could have been the prime years of his athletic career.

When his suspension expires in mid-2027, Nkosi will be 31 years old – leaving a potential return to elite professional rugby highly unlikely.

Taking to social media this week, he made a post to Instagram – alongside various action pictures from his career – stating: “I don’t have a fancy caption, I just miss being on the field.”