Sbu Nkosi: Banned Springboks Star Opens Up About Missing Rugby in Emotional Post
- Sbu Nkosi, who won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and earned 16 Springbok caps, broke his silence on social media this week
- The 30-year-old winger is currently serving a three-year ban after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in May 2024
- Nkosi's Instagram post has drawn attention to a career derailed by mental health struggles and a doping suspension
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Former Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi has posted an emotional tribute to his playing days on Instagram, sharing career photographs alongside the words: "I don't have a fancy caption, I just miss being on the field."
Source: Getty Images
The post, published this week, arrives at what could have been the prime years of the 30-year-old's athletic career. Instead, Nkosi is currently unable to train with or compete for any professional team or rugby union, having been handed a three-year doping ban in 2024.
From World Cup glory to a doping ban
Nkosi's career began with considerable promise. He made his name as a prolific finisher with the Sharks in Durban before earning a Springbok debut against England at Ellis Park, where he scored two tries in a 42–39 victory.
By 2021, Sbu Nkosi had established himself as one of South Africa's leading wings, earning 16 Test appearances and scoring nine tries. He was also a member of the Springbok squad that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
However, his transfer to the Bulls in 2022 marked the beginning of a difficult period away from rugby. In November that year, Nkosi was reported missing for nearly three weeks, leading the Pretoria-based franchise to file a missing persons report with the South African Police Service.
He was later located at his father's home in Mpumalanga, where he revealed that he had been struggling with serious mental health issues, including depression.
Although Nkosi made a brief return to the field in early 2023, his comeback was short-lived. Continued concerns over missed training sessions persisted, with then Bulls head coach Jake White publicly acknowledging the challenges surrounding the winger's availability.
Career lifeline ends in another setback
In March 2024, former Springbok Frans Steyn offered Sbu Nkosi a lifeline by handing him a one-year deal with the Free State Cheetahs in his role as the union's Director of Rugby.
However, the comeback was cut short just a few weeks later. An out-of-competition World Rugby drug test conducted in May 2024 produced a positive result for an anabolic steroid, ultimately leading to a three-year suspension.
Nkosi will be eligible to play again in mid-2027, by which time he will be 31. Given the lengthy absence from the game, a return to top-level professional rugby appears increasingly unlikely.
Springboks star celebrates after hitting 50th cap
Briefly News previously reported that Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe described reaching the 50-Test milestone as a dream come true after helping South Africa to a convincing 45-21 victory over England on Saturday.
The electric winger celebrated his landmark appearance in style, scoring a try and adding five successful conversions as the Springboks opened their Nations Championship campaign with an impressive bonus-point win.
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Source: Briefly News
