Bongi Mbonambi

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Bongi Mbonambi
Bongi Mbonambi 2022.jpg
Full nameMbongeni Theo Mbonambi
Date of birth (1991-01-07) 7 January 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth Bethlehem, Orange Free State, South Africa
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) [1]
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb) [1]
School St. Alban's College
University TUT
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Sharks / Sharks (Currie Cup)
Youth career
2007 Griffons
2008–2012 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011 TUT Vikings 3 (0)
2013–2014 UP Tuks 8 (5)
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2014 Blue Bulls 30 (5)
2012–2014 Bulls 15 (0)
2015–2021 Stormers 73 (25)
2015–2021 Western Province 29 (30)
2021– Sharks 40 (95)
Correct as of 25 January 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2009 South Africa Schools
2011 South Africa Under-20 5 (0)
2016–present South Africa 73 (70)
2016 Springbok XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 31 August 2024
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Japan Squad
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 France Squad

Mbongeni Theo Mbonambi (born 7 January 1991), known mononymously as Bongi, is a South African professional rugby union player. He currently plays as a hooker for the Sharks as well as the South Africa national rugby team. He previously played for the Blue Bulls, making his senior debut during the 2012 Super Rugby season against the Crusaders in Pretoria. Mbonambi was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. [2]

Contents

International rugby

On 28 May 2016, Mbonambi was included in a 31-man South Africa squad for their three-test match series against a touring Ireland team. [3] Mbonambi was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. [4] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England 32-12 in the final. [5] Mbonambi was also named in South Africa's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

In the semi-final match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup against England, Mbonambi was accused of making a racial slur against Tom Curry. [6] It was speculated that Mbonambi used the term "wit kant" in afrikaans meaning "white side". [7] After investigating the allegation, World Rugby found insufficient evidence and closed the case. [8]

Mbonambi said: "I think it is a very sad thing when you live in a first world country [England], you think the rest of the world speaks English.

"It was unprofessional on their part. They could have gone on a website and looked for an English dictionary and looked for the word in Afrikaans.

"People understood [in South Africa] but obviously their side was misunderstood." [9]

International statistics

Test match record

As of 8 October 2021
AgainstPWDLTryPts%Won
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 65011583.33
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 620421033.33
  British and Irish Lions 32010066.67
Flag of England.svg  England 53020060
Flag of France.svg  France 440015100
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 110015100
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 21010050
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 320121066.67
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 220000100
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 1100210100
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 82150031.25
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 110000100
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 31020033.33
Total452711794561.11

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries (9)

TriesOppositionLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Padua, Italy Stadio Euganeo Test match25 November 2017Won 35–6
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Brisbane, Australia Suncorp Stadium 2018 Rugby Championship 8 September 2018Lost 18–23
1Flag of France.svg  France Paris, France Stade de France Test match10 November 2018Won 29–26
1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Salta, Argentina Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena 2019 Rugby Championship 10 August 2019Won 46–13
2Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Aichi Prefecture, Japan Toyota Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 28 September 2019Won 57–3
1Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Fukuroi, Japan Shizuoka Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 4 October 2019Won 49–3
1Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Pretoria, South Africa Loftus Versfeld Test match 2 July 2021Won 40–9
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Gold Coast, Australia Cbus Super Stadium 2021 Rugby Championship 12 September 2021Lost 26–28

References

  1. 1 2 "Bongi Mbonambi player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "SA Under-20 squad named". Sport24. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Squad of 31 ushers in new era of Springbok rugby". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Bongi Mbonambi: World Rugby says 'insufficient evidence' to charge South Africa hooker over alleged racial slur at Tom Curry". Sky Sports. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Meagher, Gerard (29 October 2023). "Government declares 'the Webb Ellis is in South Africa's kant'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "World Rugby clears Mbonambi due to insufficient evidence of racial slur". Guardian. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Doel, Jon (7 November 2023). "Bongi Mbonambi breaks silence on Tom Curry and slams 'unprofessional' England". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
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