A 16-year-old Mbonambi started his career in 2007 playing junior rugby for the Northern Free State’s Griffons, which has maintained its record for producing the most players for the 2019 Currie Cup winners, the Free State Cheetahs.

Eugene van Wyk, CEO of Griffons, told OFM News they are very proud of Mbonambi’s achievement, although he only played a few matches at Griffons before joining the Stormers.

He further said that Mbonambi is precisely the reason they provide a facility for the development of young rugby players in the Free State.

Mbonambi was part of the Springboks’ fifteen men squad that thrashed England with 32 – 12 points in Yokohama, Japan, to bring the Webb Ellis trophy home on Saturday 2 November.

Morgan Piek reports although no Cheetahs players were selected for the squad, the team has strong ties to the Free State.

Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Duane Vermeulen, Lood de Jager and Trevor Nyakane are all former Cheetahs. Frans Steyn and Cobus Reinach played junior rugby for the Free State.

Aranos Coetzee and Ruben de Haas represented Namibia and the USA respectively. Former Cheetahs who represented other countries are Lappies Labuschagne (Japan), WP Nel (Scotland) and Torsten van Jaarsveld.

The coach Rassie Erasmus and defence coach, Jacques Nienaber, are both former Cheetahs, while Jaco Peyper in a Free State referee.

The Springboks also held their training camp in Bloemfontein before heading to Japan.

A petition has been set up as an appeal to include all in the victory of the Rugby World Cup, and make Bloemfontein a destination for the Springboks World Cup Victory Tour.

To sign the petition, go to the OFM Sound of Your Life Facebook page or alternatively follow this link to the OFM website, at www.ofm.co.za.

OFM News/Marvin Ntsane