{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Gcobani Bobo | image = | caption = | birth_name = Gcobani Bobo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|9|12}} | birth_place = [[King William's Town]], [[South Africa]] | height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|97|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}} | ru_position = [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]], [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]] | years1 = 2001–2004 | years2 = 2005–2007 | years3 = 2008–2009 | years4 = 2009–2011 | ru_clubupdate = | clubs1 = [[Golden Lions]] | clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}} | clubs3 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | clubs4 = [[Newcastle Falcons|Newcastle]] | apps1 = | points1 = | ru_currentclub = | super14currentclub = | super1 = [[Lions (Super rugby franchise)|Cats]] | super2 = [[Sharks (Super rugby franchise)|Sharks]] | super3 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 2002–2003 | superyears2 = 2005–2007 | superyears3 = 2008–2009 | superapps1 = 13 | superapps2 = 13 | superapps3 = 25 | superpoints1 = 30 | superpoints2 = 5 | superpoints3 = 10 | super14update = | province1 = | provinceyears1 = | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | ru_provinceupdate = | repyears1 = 2003–2008 | repyears2 = 2013 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repteam2 = [[Bermuda national rugby union team#Bermuda International Select XV Squad|Bermuda Select XV]] | repcaps1 = 6 | reppoints1 = 0 | ru_ntupdate = | spouse = | children = | relatives = | school = [[Dale College Boys' High School|Dale College]]<br>[[Rondebosch Boys' High School|Rondebosch Boys' High]] | university = }}
'''Gcobani Bobo''' (born 12 September 1979)<ref>{{cite web |title=Gcobani Bobo |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/southafrica/rugby/player/13792.html |website=ESPN scrum |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gcobani BOBO - Player statistics - international stats - It's rugby |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-international-2102.html |website=www.itsrugby.co.uk |access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref> is a former [[South Africa]]n rugby player, rugby commentator and author. His preferred position was [[Rugby union positions#13. Outside centre & 12. Inside centre|centre]], although he had played [[Rugby union positions#14. & 11. Wing|wing]] on numerous occasions, with some success due to his pace. Bobo played for the [[Golden Lions]], [[Sharks (Currie Cup)|Sharks]], [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]], [[Newcastle Falcons]], [[Lions (Super rugby franchise)|Cats]], [[Sharks (Super rugby franchise)|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 [[Currie Cup|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 (rugby union)|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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Constable |first1=Grant |title=Huge hit by Gcobani Bobo results in the try for Kankowski {{!}} Rugbydump |url=https://www.rugbydump.com/news/huge-hit-by-gcobani-bobo-results-in-the-try-for-kankowski/ |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=www.rugbydump.com |language=en}}</ref> [[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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}
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]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Graham |title=Big guns begin quest for Premiership glory |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15294186/big-guns-begin-quest-premiership-glory |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=2 September 2009 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=South African centre Gcobani Bobo joins Newcastle Falcons |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jul/03/gcobani-bobo-newcastle-falcons |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=3 July 2009}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bobo, Gcobani}} [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Qonce]] [[Category:Alumni of Rondebosch Boys' High School]] [[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]] [[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Newcastle Red Bulls players]] [[Category:Rugby union centres]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:Alumni of Dale College Boys' High School]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]