Nkosi ends tumultuous time at the Bulls
THE Blue Bulls Company has mutually terminated the contract of Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi with immediate effect, the union revealed via a statement yesterday.
In the statement, chief executive Edgar Rathbone thanked Nkosi, who joined the Pretoria-based side last year, for his services to the team.
“I would like to thank Sbu for all that he has contributed towards our campaigns during his time with us,” Rathbone said in the statement.
“I know that it wasn’t an easy time for him personally, but I am confident that the support we provided to him was invaluable.
“Having a Springbok wing of his calibre in our team has been a pleasure.
“I know that he now feels as though it is the best time to move on and we respect his wishes.”
Nkosi has had a tumultuous time at the union due to reported “mental pressure” associated with playing professional rugby.
Late last year, the Bulls revealed that Nkosi had not reported for duty for several days and that his absence had been reported to the police.
It created intense speculation and much worry regarding his missing person’s case.
It later transpired that the 27-year-old had retreated to his father’s house.
Earlier this month, Bulls director of rugby Jake White expressed his disappointment in Nkosi’s recent action, which seemingly criticised the union publicly on social media after he had been given permission by their management to play for the
World XV against the Barbarians in England.
“He’s a talented player but I’m very disappointed with what he wrote on social media,” White said at the beginning of the month.
“He knows that I’ve had a meeting with him. Considering the Bulls let him go and play in a game overseas … to read the comments he made was obviously disappointing.
“He’s got to make decisions (about his future), he’s a big boy now. He’s got to make decisions about where he wants to go, and it’s not always in anyone else’s hands other than the player.
“At this point in time, he’s not playing well enough, he’s not training hard enough, I don’t see him enough for him to warrant selection above guys who have been training in the group anyway.
“It’s not for me to discuss a guy’s future; as I said he’s a big boy now, a World Cup-winning Springbok – he must make decisions about where he wants to be and make sure those decisions are in the best interests of himself and the club.”
It would seem then, that Nkosi has indeed made a decision on his future but what that entails and what his next move will be, was not revealed by the union and is immediately clear. Nkosi last played for the Bulls on May 6 in a Currie Cup match against his former team the Sharks.
He made rare appearances for the team at franchise level in the United Rugby Championship, playing in only five matches of their 19-game campaign in the tournament, for a total of 355 minutes. He scored two tries during that period, making 266 meters, beat four defenders and made two clean breaks.
He also only had a 44% tackle success in the URC, according to Ultimate Rugby. Nkosi’s last game for the Bulls in the URC was against the Lions in March.
He last played for the Boks against the All Blacks in 2021 during the Covid-restricted Rugby Championship on the Gold Coast in Australia. Nkosi, capped 16 times at international level, is currently not part of the Bok preparation camp for this year’s Rugby Championship taking place in Pretoria.