Blue Bulls Company announced earlier this week announced earlier this week that the Springbok winger, Sbu Nkosi, is once again ready to show his mettle on the field.

This development follows after Nkosi was given time away from the game to sort out personal matters regarding his mental health.

Nkosi joined the rest of the senior squad who returned from a two-week break to begin their preparation work for the resumption of play across the United Rugby Championship and the Heineken Champions Cup, while the Currie Cup tournament will also follow later in the season.

BBCo. Chief Executive Officer, Edgar Rathbone said Nkosi’s return was a rewarding moment for all those who have journeyed alongside him over his period away from the sport.

“What a joy it is to have Sbu back amongst us and more so because we know the difficult journey he has gone through to get back on his feet. He returns to a family that has been waiting for this moment with bated breath and we just are extremely blessed to have him run around again,” said Rathbone.

The Bulls CEO applauded the player’s bravery to want to get back up to pursue his rugby dream yet again.

“He is a talented player with plenty to offer the world of rugby, and I am confident that his story now transcends rugby more than it may have before. His story inspires many amongst us as the Vodacom Bulls family and I hope that many South Africans and rugby fans across the globe will look at him and be encouraged to get up and try again whenever they tumble,” Rathbone remarked.

He said Nkosi has some time to spend with the high-performance team to make sure that his integration into the environment is done accordingly. He believes that the Bulls have the best specialists in sports science, who will assist all the players.

“So, I am comfortable that Sbu is in the best hands possible. Of course, there is the temptation to want to fast-track things and focus on a return-to-play timeline, but that is not important right now. We are just happy to have him with us and as the process takes care of the business, I am confident that we will see him running out soon,” Rathbone concluded.

A refreshed-looking Nkosi said that he has been looking forward to this day for a while and he considers himself blessed to be back at Loftus.

“Firstly, I want to say thank you. Thank you to the team, the Bulls family and the people of South Africa who have shown me unwavering support over these last few months. It took some time but I am happy that I am back where I belong and that would have never been possible without the love and kindness I have received,” Nkosi said.

According to him, the overflow of support allowed him to find comfort and confidence in that he is no lesser human being for acknowledging and accepting that he was not okay.

“The support I received allowed me to find my feet again and the only thing I can do now, is to pay it forward so that others can be empowered to know that the sun will rise again, even when it does not look like it,” he commented.

Nkosi said Rugby has been everything to him, but for a while, because of life, he had lost that connection and needed to take time away so that he could find himself again and rezone.

“Thankfully, the company and team, Edgar [Rathbone] and Jake [White] allowed me that time to be away and it has meant the world of good for me, my family and my health. Not many people get this opportunity and that is not lost on me. I come back committed and willing to put in the yards as my way of paying back all the support I received,” he assured all the team’s supporters.

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