Kobus Wiese Biography

One of the most prominent locks in South African rugby history, Kobus Wiese carried the South African brand of physical rugby on his sleeve into every game he played.

The Springbok received his formative education at Paarl Gimnasium, a school known for producing professional sportsmen, especially Springboks.

His road to glory started at Boland in 1985. The 21-year-old stayed there for one year before moving to the Leopards, then eventually the Lions where he stayed for the majority of his career.

Communication was a strong point for Kobus Wiese and he showed it during his games, especially in the line out. The monumental lock is still remembered as one of the best jumpers to don the Springbok jersey.

He enjoyed the ascendancy of the Lions, then known as Transvaal, after joining and would go on to capture a host of silverware for his team.

Among the treasures were the now-defunct Lion Cup, the Currie Cup, and Super 10 (Super Rugby).

Kobus Wiese bagged the Currie Cup twice during his time in Johannesburg, making it to the Final on two other occasions. The extraordinary lock also lifted the Lion Cup consecutively during its final three years. 

In 1993, he also won the Super 10 competition along with the local competitions. To date, this is considered the strongest side the Johannesburg franchise has fielded.

Springbok duty called Kobus Wiese in 1993 for a Test against France. Despite the game ending in a draw, the powerful lock would not see Test fixtures again until 1995, before the Rugby World Cup.

When the team announcement was made for the World Cup squad, the second-row forward was amongst them. He and the famous 1995 Springboks went on to win the Webb Ellis Cup and do the impossible for South Africa.

Of course, such dominance and strength does not come without its vices. The powerful lock received his fair share of flack from referees for his aggressive style, one occasion earning him a 30-day ban.

His Springbok career lasted only 3 years, but the forward was never part of a losing Springbok side when he was named in the starting XV.

Kobus Wiese has always shown zeal and ambition, from his time on the pitch into the years after. His efforts in the lock position has set the benchmark for future Springboks - a standard that will forever see them strive for excellence.