Gcobani Bobo

Last updated
Gcobani Bobo
Birth nameGcobani Bobo
Date of birth (1979-09-12) 12 September 1979 (age 44)
Place of birth King William's Town, South Africa
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb; 214 lb)
School Dale College
Rondebosch Boys' High
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2001–2004
2005–2007
2008–2009
2009–2011
Golden Lions
Sharks (Currie Cup)
Western Province
Newcastle
()
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2002–2003
2005–2007
2008–2009
Cats
Sharks
Stormers
13
13
25
(30)
(5)
(10)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2003–2008
2013
South Africa
Bermuda Select XV
6 (0)

Gcobani Bobo (born 12 September 1979 [1] ) is a former South African rugby player, rugby commentator and author. His preferred position was centre, although he had played wing on numerous occasions, with some success due to his pace. Bobo played for the Golden Lions, Sharks, Western Province, Newcastle Falcons, Cats, Sharks and the Stormers.

Contents

In 2015 he co-wrote a rugby thriller novel titled The Rise of the Dagger - What Happens in a Rugby Story When Life Interrupts?

Career

Bobo started his career as a flanker, until then Bok coach Nick Mallet suggested that Bobo should shift from the side of the scrum to the midfield. Bobo was selected for the South African U-19 side in 1998 and then spent two years playing for the Golden Lions U-21 outfit. His performances in the then Bankfin Currie Cup earned him selection to the SA 'A' team in 2001. When he was elevated to Super Rugby, he was ready. The burly centre scored a hat-trick on debut against the Bulls, and looked set for full Springbok colours before a knee injury at the House of Pain put paid to his short-term ambitions.

Bobo was considered[ by whom? ] to have a good chance of selection for the 2003 World Cup, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a warm-up encounter – having been named in Rudolf Straeuli's squad. Jake White realised Bobo's potential and tested him on the Vodacom Outgoing Tour in 2004. But Bobo had lost some of his enthusiasm and he lacked pace.[ citation needed ]

Given a second chance by Rassie Erasmus, Bobo returned home to the Cape to play for the Stormers Super 14 team and has rediscovered the form that made him a Bok, partnering Jean de Villiers. At the conclusion of the 2009 season, like de Villiers Bobo left, signing for an overseas team, Newcastle Falcons.

Author

In 2015, Gcobani alongside Elvis Jack published a rugby thriller novel titled The Rise of the Dagger - What Happens in a Rugby Story When Life Interrupts?

The book narrates the life of Xolile Dalindyebo, a South African Xhosa rugby player who mysteriously speaks Japanese as well. Xolile fast becomes highly successful as player due to his talent and scheming. But his new found success is at the mercy of his scandalous and hidden past in Japan.

Publications

The Rise of the Dagger. Lulu Press, Inc, 2016. ISBN   9781329761469

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Falcons</span> English rugby union club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team that play in Premiership Rugby, England's highest division of rugby union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schalk Burger</span> Rugby player

Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr. is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played as a flanker for Saracens in the English Premiership and has won 86 caps for South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake White</span> Rugby player

Jake White is a professional rugby union coach and former coach of the South African national team – the Springboks – whom he coached to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations. White also coached the Under-21 Springbok side to victory in the Under-21 World Cup in 2002. He was coach of the Brumbies in the Super Rugby from 2012, but resigned with two years remaining on his contract in 2013 to return to South Africa. On returning to South Africa, he coached the Sharks for a single season, explaining he wanted to seek international opportunities. This arose in a technical role with the Tongan national team. After assisting Tonga in their 3 Test European Tour in 2014, White was announced as Montpellier's new boss, overseeing all coaching aspects for the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percy Montgomery</span> South Africa international rugby union player

Percival Colin Montgomery OIS is a Namibian-South African former professional rugby union player. When he ended his international career in August 2008, he held the all-time records for both caps and points for South Africa's national team, known as the Springboks.

John William Smit, OIS, is a South African former professional rugby union player and former chief executive officer of the Sharks. He was the 50th captain of the Springbok rugby union team and led the team to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played most of his senior career as a hooker, but also won 13 caps as a prop, where he had also played for South Africa's under-21 team. He retired from international rugby following the 2011 Rugby World Cup as the most-capped South African player ever, with 111 appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean de Villiers</span> Rugby player

Jean de Villiers is a South African former professional rugby union player. He started his career at wing, but played most of his career as an inside centre. De Villiers previously played for Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super Rugby, Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby and internationally for South Africa, for whom he was named captain in June 2012.

Luke Asher Watson is a South African former rugby union footballer who can play at flank or eighthman. He has represented and captained the South African Schools rugby team (2001), South Africa's under-19 (2002) and under-21 (2004) teams, as well as the Springbok Sevens team (2001). Watson has also captained both the Western Province and the Super Rugby Stormers. He most recently played for the Eastern Province Kings.

Adrian Abraham 'Adi' Jacobs is a South African former rugby union footballer who played for the Sharks provincially and The Sharks in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter de Villiers</span> Rugby player

Peter de Villiers is a South African professional rugby union coach and Good Party politician. He was coach of the South Africa national rugby union team from 2008 to 2011, after successes with the South African U19 and U21 squads, and the first-ever non-white to be appointed to the position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Kockott</span> France international rugby union player

Rory Kockott is a South African-born French professional former rugby union player who played for Castres in France's Top 14 and played for the France national team. He was born in East London, South Africa, and qualified to play for France through residency; he won 11 caps for France in 2014 and 2015. A scrum-half, he previously played in Super Rugby for the Sharks and the Lions, and for the Golden Lions and the Sharks in South Africa's Currie Cup.

Izak Stephanus de Villiers 'Balie' Swart, is a former South African rugby union player. He played as a prop, with the ability to prop on either side of the hooker.

Jozua Francois Malherbe is a South African rugby union professional player. He plays as a tighthead prop for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship and South Africa national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobus Reinach</span> South African rugby union player

Jacobus Meyer Reinach is a South African professional rugby union player who plays for the Top 14 side Montpellier and South Africa national team. His playing position is scrum-half and he is the son of former Springbok winger Jaco Reinach. He was the member of the victorious Springbok team who won at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, Yokohama.

Louis Schreuder is a South African rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Bath in Premiership Rugby.

In June 2012, the England national rugby union team went on a three-test tour against the South Africa national rugby union team, known colloquially and referred to hereafter as the Springboks. This was one of a series of mid-year tours in 2012 by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations.

Tyrone Holmes is a South African-born Scottish professional rugby union footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Gold</span> Rugby player

Gary Gold is a South African rugby union coach who has coached at various levels of the game in England, Japan and South Africa. He was until December 2022 the head coach of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheslin Kolbe</span> South African rugby union player

Cheslin Kolbe is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One and the South Africa national team. His regular position is wing, but he also plays at fullback. He has also recently featured at fly half for Toulouse in the Top 14, and as a scrum half for the Boks. Kolbe was a member of the South Africa Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He has won the Rugby World Cup twice with South Africa, in 2019 and 2023. Kolbe was nominated for 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year but lost to teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. He previously played for Toulouse in the Top14, the Stormers in super rugby, and Western Province in the Currie Cup. He has won the World Cup, Rugby Championship, and Lions Series with the Boks, the Top14, and Champions Cup with Toulouse, and Currie Cup with the Western Province.

Dick John Muir is a South African former rugby union player, and now the interim head coach of Netherlands national rugby union team.

References

Sources