{{short description|South African rugby union player (born 1981)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Jongi Nokwe | image = | fullname = Jongikhaya Lutric Nokwe | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|12|30|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Keiskammahoek|Ngxalawe]], South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.86}} | weight = {{cvt|90|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = [[Kwamfundo Secondary]] | university = | relatives = | position = [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]] | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2003–2007 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} | apps1 = 55 | points1 = 165 | years2 = 2006 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps2 = 6 | points2 = 10 | years3 = 2008–2010 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | apps3 = 30 | points3 = 75 | years4 = 2008–2010 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} | apps4 = 36 | points4 = 130 | years5 = 2011 | clubs5 = → {{Rut|Griffons}} | apps5 = 1 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2012 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} | apps6 = 6 | points6 = 15 | years7 = 2013 | clubs7 = {{Rut|Falcons}} | apps7 = 14 | points7 = 30 | years8 = 2014 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}} | apps8 = 1 | points8 = 5 | amatyears1 = 2014 | amatteam1 = College Rovers | amatapps1 = 8 | amatpoints1 = 30 | repyears1 = 2004–2005 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national under-20 rugby union team|South Africa Under-20]] | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 2008–2009 | repteam2 = {{nrut|South Africa}} | repcaps2 = 4 | reppoints2 = 25 | repsevensyears1 = 2004 | repsevensteam1 = {{nrut7|South Africa}} | repsevenscomp1 = 2 | clubupdate = | repupdate = }} '''Jongikhaya Lutric Nokwe''' (born 30 December 1981) is a South African former [[rugby union]] player who played as a winger.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jongi Nokwe {{!}} Rugby Union {{!}} Players and Officials|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/16084.html|access-date=2021-01-14|website=ESPN scrum}}</ref>

He is a former [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springbok]] during the period in which he played for the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} franchise in the [[Super Rugby|Super 14]] tournament, and the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} in the domestic [[Currie Cup]] competition. He has also represented [[Boland Cavaliers]] and the [[Stormers]], as well as the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}, {{Rut|Falcons}} and the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}.

==Playing career== Nokwe made his international debut against [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] on 9 August 2008 and scored a try as the Springboks won 63–9. In only his third game, he became the first Springbok player to score four tries against the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] in a test match in a 53–8 victory at [[Ellis Park Stadium]], [[Johannesburg]] before injuring his leg.<ref>{{Cite book|title=South African Rugby Annual 2016|last1=Grieb|first1=Eddie|last2=Heath|first2=Duane|date=2016|publisher=South African Rugby|isbn=978-0620692908|location=Cape Town|pages=179|oclc=957740131}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=What ever happened to four-try Johannesburg hero Jongi Nokwe?|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/07/19/rugby-championship-south-africa-jongi-nokwe|access-date=2021-01-14|website=www.rugby.com.au|language=en}}</ref>

The following year he was selected in the South Africa squad to play the [[British and Irish Lions]] and started the final test as the Springboks won the series 2–1.

In 2005 Nokwe was named South African Young Player of the Year ahead of future Springboks [[Morné Steyn]], [[Wynand Olivier]], [[Ruan Pienaar]] and [[JP Pietersen]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=South African Rugby Annual 2016|last1=Grieb|first1=Eddie|last2=Heath|first2=Duane|date=2016|publisher=South African Rugby|isbn=978-0620692908|location=Cape Town|pages=24|oclc=957740131}}</ref>

In 2006 he was named ''Provincial Sportsman of the Year'' by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the [[Western Cape]].<ref name=":0" />

In November 2011, it was announced that he signed for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} for 2012.<ref name="Nokwe kry Kings-kontrak">{{cite web | url=http://www.dieburger.com/Sport/Rugby/Blitsige-Nokwe-terug-in-Oos-Kaap-20111111-2 | title=Nokwe kry Kings-kontrak | publisher=Media24 | work=Die Burger | date=21 November 2011 | access-date=21 November 2012 | author=Thormählen, Jóhann | language=af}}</ref>

He was released after just one season and signed for the {{Rut|Falcons}} for 2013,<ref name="Valke sign up ex-Springbok">{{cite web | url=http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/kempton-park/kempton-park-news-sport?oid=6830563&sn=Detail&pid=490118&Valke-sign-up-ex-Springbok | title=Valke sign up ex-Springbok | work=Look Local Kempton Park | date=28 January 2013 | access-date=11 February 2013 | author=Anticevich, Annalie | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115052815/http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/kempton-park/kempton-park-news-sport?oid=6830563&sn=Detail&pid=490118&Valke-sign-up-ex-Springbok | archive-date=15 January 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> before joining [[Durban]]-based club side College Rovers before the [[2014 SARU Community Cup]].<ref name="New Chairman For 2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.collegerovers.co.za/content/new_chairman_2014 |title=New Chairman For 2014 |publisher=College Rovers |access-date=14 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115100136/http://www.collegerovers.co.za/content/new_chairman_2014 |archive-date=15 January 2014 }}</ref>

=== Test history === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! No. !! Opponents !! Results<br />(SA 1st) !! Position !! Tries !! Dates !! Venue |- | 1. || {{ru|ARG}} || align="center"|63–9 || [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]|| align="center"|1 || 9 Aug 2008 || [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]], Johannesburg |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 2. || {{ru|AUS}}|| align="center"|15–27 || Wing || || 23 Aug 2008 || [[Kings Park Stadium|Kings Park]], Durban |- | 3. || {{ru|AUS}} || align="center"|53–8 || Wing || align="center"|4 || 30 Aug 2008 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 4. || {{flag|British and Irish Lions|name=British and Irish Lions }} || align="center"|9–28 || Wing || || 4 Jul 2009 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg |}

==Coaching career== After his retirement, Nokwe started coaching and he was appointed assistant coach of the {{rut|Western Province}} women team.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-07|title=System is working for unbeaten DHL WP Women|url=https://wprugby.com/system-is-working-for-unbeaten-dhl-wp-women/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=WP Rugby}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> During September 2017, Nokwe was appointed coach of the SA Select Women's Sevens team for the Hokkaido Invitational Sevens in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Bok Nokwe to coach women's sevens team|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/sevens/ex-bok-nokwe-to-coach-womens-sevens-team-20170907|access-date=2021-01-14|website=Sport|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== *[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''767'''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=26538 | name=Jongi Nokwe | date=10 March 2016}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nokwe, Jongi}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Amahlathi Local Municipality]] [[Category:Xhosa people]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:Eastern Province Elephants players]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Boland Cavaliers players]] [[Category:Griffons (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Valke (rugby union) players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from the Eastern Cape]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]