Bongi Mbonambi’s remarkable journey — his personal story and sporting milestones
Bongi Mbonambi is a South African professional rugby player known for his strength, leadership, and resilience on the field. He plays as a hooker for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the South Africa national team.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Bongi Mbonambi was a vital member of the South African team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
- He plays as a hooker and is known for his strength, scrummaging power, and leadership on the field.
- He began his professional rugby career with the Bulls, later joined the Stormers, and currently represents the Sharks.
Profile summary
Full name | Mbongeni Theo Mbonambi |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 7 January 1991 |
Age | 34 years (as of 2025) |
Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
Place of birth | Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa |
Current residence | Durban, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | African |
Religion | Christianity |
Height in inches | 5′9″ |
Height in centimeters | 175 |
Weight in pounds | 238 |
Weight in kilograms | 108 |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Brown |
Sexuality | Straight |
Relationship status | Married |
Spouse | Anastacia Mbonambi |
Children | 2 |
High school | St. Alban’s College, Pretoria |
College | Tshwane University of Technology (TUT Vikings) |
Profession | Professional rugby union player |
Bongi Mbonambi's biography
Bongi Mbonambi was born on January 7, 1991, in Bethlehem. He is an alumnus of the Tshwane University of Technology. He was also a student at St Alban's College.
Bongi Mbonambi's height and weight
Bongi Mbonambi's height is approximately 5 feet 9 inches, which is 177 cm, and his weight is about 108 kg (238 lbs).
Source: Original
Career
Mbonambi began his professional career with the Blue Bulls, making his senior debut in the 2012 Super Rugby season against the Crusaders in Pretoria. Before joining the senior ranks, he represented South Africa at the Under-20 level during the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.
Mbonambi made his international debut in 2016 after being named in South Africa’s 31-man squad for the three-test series against Ireland. He later became an integral part of the Springboks, representing his country in major tournaments, including the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.
In 2019, he helped South Africa clinch the Rugby World Cup title after a 32–12 victory over England in the final. During the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final against England, Mbonambi was accused of making a racial slur toward player Tom Curry.
The incident led to an investigation by World Rugby, which ultimately found insufficient evidence to support the allegation, and the case was closed. In addition to his World Cup success, Mbonambi also contributed to South Africa’s victory in the 2025 Rugby Championship.
His opinion on the Springboks' performance in the 2019 Rugby World Cup
During the match against Japan, Bongi was named one of the best hookers in the world. His teams also received accolades for beating Japan. He, however, gave credit to Rassie Erasmus, the team's coach. He stated that the coach had not picked players based on their colour. He went further to state:
That difference has not just been to the South Africa team, because his decisions have affected the whole nation. He is a coach who has an honest opinion about every player and he is not someone who does things behind closed doors but he does it openly and everyone knows about it.
Players have respect for someone who is honest and open and says what he is looking for. It gives you more freedom to go out there and express yourself: he does not put you in a box and that has been one of his outstanding features.
He also acknowledged the efforts that the team's captain, Siya Kolisi, had put in place to ensure the team's success.
Bongi Mbonambi's wife
Bongi Mbonambi is married to Anastacia. The couple exchanged vows in August 2017 at the Webersburg Wine Estate in a ceremony witnessed by close family and friends.
They recently marked their eighth anniversary, with Anastacia sharing a photo of them enjoying a meal together at a restaurant, accompanied by a heartfelt message to her husband that read:
Happy Anniversary my love ❤️🥰 8yrs of Marriage by the Grace of God 🙏🏽🥹as in Literally by the grace of God, because this life will throw you some curveballs & when things get hard….. man lol it does get HARD especially with your profession. I hope & pray the years get sweeter & filled with more love 🥰 🙏🏽💕 & our beautiful girls gets to witness what is a healthy union, partnership & friendship filled with love, honour & respect i Love you ❤️
Bongi Mbonambi and Anastacia are blessed with two daughters.
FAQs
- What is Bongi Mbonambi's background? He was born on January 7, 1991, in Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa. He developed a passion for rugby at a young age and went on to represent the country at both junior and senior levels.
- How long has Bongi Mbonambi been married? The rugby player has been married to his wife, Anastacia, since 2017. The couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony attended by family and close friends.
- What are Bongi Mbonambi's strengths? His strengths include exceptional scrummaging, accurate line-out throws, and strong leadership on the field.
- Has Bongi Mbonambi won any awards? Yes, Bongi Mbonambi has won several honours, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2025 Rugby Championship with the South African national team.
- What is Bongi Mbonambi's weight? The player weighs approximately 108 kilograms or 238 lbs.
Bongi Mbonambi is one of the best hookers in the South African national team. He attributes his performance largely to his hard work, as he has had to give his best in the sport to achieve his current level.
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