Springbok ‘bad boy’: Where is Sbu Nkosi now?

After months of making headlines over his mental health problems, former Springbok Sbu Nkosi has settled down into his new home at the Cheetahs.

The controversial rugby player hailed as one of the “bad boys” of the sport, has been vocal about experiencing depression and the “pressure” of the spotlight.

SBU NKOSI GETS A LIFELINE FROM CHEETAHS

In March, Sbu Nkosi officially signed on to the Cheetahs, where he has been drafted to play in several games.

According to RugbyPass, the 28-year-old was offered a one-year contract to play in their Currie Cup campaign. The contract runs from 1 March to and extends until 30 June 2025.

And Sbu has fit in well with the rest of the squad, according to coach Izak van der Westhuizen.

He told OFM Sports: “He has slotted it very well here at the Cheetahs.

“From day one, he has made a positive impact on the team. He does extras on his own, standing in meetings while answering questions.

“You can see he is a professional – he has been around the block, and he knows what it is about”.

CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS

Just months before signing with the Cheetahs, Sbu Nkosi had shared a cryptic Instagram post teasing a possible return to the Sharks. 

“Mind is on the next move. Heart is in the 031”.

The 27-year-old was released early from his contract at the Bulls in July 2023.

There’s also the case of his private life scandals, including going AWOL from his Pretoria in 2022 and courting controversy over his social media shade.

And according to TimesLive, Sbu – who cited mental health struggles for his absence – did the same at the Sharks, too.

Speaking in a press conference last year, Bulls director of rugby Jake White expressed his concern about the player’s decline.

He said of Sbu: “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….I think he battles with whatever [that’s bothering him].

“My gut feeling is that I don’t think he battles with anything other than that he needs to get his life sorted.

He continued: “He was married and had a child, but he’s now got a girlfriend, and he’s got two kids with her. If that was my son and he was 26, 27 years old, I would worry about him.

‘I AM DOING WELL’

A year ago, Sbu Nkosi gave an update on his mental health.

He said: “I am doing well. I can say I’m out of the cave.

The former Springbok continued: “I feel the light on my skin and the wind in my hair. I can feel my spirit being revived again.

“I felt like I was almost a shadow of the man I was supposed to be, and I needed to take a step back and fix the problem before it became a problem.”