Gcobani Bobo

Gcobani Bobo

Birth name	Gcobani Bobo
Date of birth	(1979-09-12) 12 September 1979
Place of birth	King William's Town, South Africa
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	97 kg (15 st 4 lb; 214 lb)
School	Dale College Rondebosch Boys' High
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2001–2004 Golden Lions () 2005–2007 Sharks (Currie Cup) () 2008–2009 Western Province () 2009–2011 Newcastle () Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2002–2003 Cats 13 (30) 2005–2007 Sharks 13 (5) 2008–2009 Stormers 25 (10) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2003–2008 South Africa 6 (0) 2013 Bermuda Select XV

Gcobani Bobo (born 12 September 1979) 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.

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 had been named in Rudolf Straeuli's squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a warm-up encounter put paid to his chances of selection. 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.

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.