Where Bongi Mbonambi grew up in Bohlokong, the township near Bethlehem in the Free State, football (soccer, as it is known in South Africa) was the preferred sport for almost all the young boys.

In all the schools of this township, one will still not easily see a rugby ball on playgrounds today, but boys kicking a soccer ball around is a common sight. It cannot be otherwise, with two professional football teams, Free State Stars and Super Eagles F.C, both of which were based in this area at one stage.

However, the young Mbonambi’s parents, a policeman and a nurse, decided to send their son to the Laerskool Truida Kestell in Bethlehem when he had to go to school. This is where he was exposed to two things that were foreign to his own culture – the Afrikaans language and rugby.

The bug bit and to the dismay of his family, the young Mbonambi announced that football was not his game, but that he preferred rugby. Another fact that is not so widely known is that Mbonambi learned to speak Afrikaans fluently.

He impressed from a young age with his robust onslaught on the rugby field and that is why he was lured to Hoërskool Voortrekker in Bethlehem – also an Afrikaans medium school – when it was time to go to high school.

In 2007 he was selected to represent the Griffons at the Grant Khomo week in Durban. There, Mbonambi excelled, to such an extent that the Blue Bulls’ recruitment team noticed him.

As part of the Blue Bulls’ development programme, he was given the opportunity to complete his last two school years at the prestigious ST Albans College in Pretoria, while he also represented the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week. Here he would also fully master the English language, which means that today, as one of the leaders in the Springbok group, he speaks three official languages fluently.

In his matric year, 2009, Mbonambi also made the SA Schools team.

He then stayed in Pretoria with a junior contract from the Blue Bulls, while in 2011 he was selected by Dawie Theron for the Junior Springboks.

After three years as a senior player with the Bulls, Mbonambi became impatient and frustrated, as men like Chiliboy Ralepelle, Willie Wepener, Bandise Maku and Callie Visagie were often chosen ahead of him. He therefore made the move to Cape Town, after the WP and Stormers made him an offer.

In June 2016, Mbongeni Theo Mbonambi made his Springbok debut against Ireland as a substitute for the then Springbok captain, Adriaan Strauss. Consequently, he became the very first Springbok rugby player produced by St. Alban’s College, which was already established in 1963.

Since then, he has not looked back and 65 Tests later he has established himself as one of the hookers – and one of the  leaders – in the Springbok squad. In terms of the number of Tests played at hooker in Springbok history, he is currently fourth on the list, with only the man he replaced in his first test, Adriaan Strauss (66) as well as Bismarck du Plessis (79) and John Smit (98 – he also played 13 Tests at prop) having served more for the Boks than Mbonambi in this position.

Mbonambi has come a long way as a player, person and leader in the Springboks team. As a young player with the Bulls, he was sometimes a difficult opponent with a rebel streak as part of his makeup. These days he is more mature, calmer and a Springbok stalwart who makes his family, the community he comes from, his school – St Albans College – and his mentors proud with his performances.

50* for this gem of a man! @BongiMbonambi

We salute you B! 🫡 Here’s to many more. 👊 pic.twitter.com/ihEsTbPyt9

— Gysbert van Zyl (@GysssaGys) July 16, 2022

Bongi Mbonambi played his 50th Test in Cape Town against Wales on 16 June 2022.

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