- Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi is facing a disciplinary hearing at the Sharks following an alleged breach of team rules during a pre-season camp
- The 35-year-old has missed the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship, with Sharks boss JP Pietersen refusing to comment on the matter
- Rassie Erasmus previously left the door open for Mbonambi's Springboks return, though those comments came before the latest off-field issues emerged
Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi is fighting to keep his 2027 Rugby World Cup hopes alive after an alleged breach of team rules at the Sharks landed him in a disciplinary process.
The 35-year-old, who holds 82 Springboks caps and two World Cup winners' medals from 2019 and 2023, is reportedly awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing in Durban. His absence has already cost him game time, with Mbonambi missing the opening rounds of the United Rugby Championship season.
Rassie Erasmus left the door open
Springboks Head Coach Rassie Erasmus spoke about Mbonambi's international prospects in August, signalling that a recall remained possible once the veteran was fit and playing consistently.
"Bongi, I know, is close to returning," Erasmus said at the time.
"He must just play some proper matches now and get it under his belt before we can have a look at him again."
Erasmus also pointed to a run of injuries as a contributing factor in the hooker's absence from the national setup.
"Bongi had a knee injury and a lower back thing. The Sharks medical team must clear him first."
Those remarks, however, were made before the disciplinary matter became public, leaving Mbonambi's Springboks standing in a more uncertain position.
Sharks stay silent on Mbonambi's future
Sharks Head Coach JP Pietersen has declined to offer any detail on the situation.
"Bongi is obviously not available. There is no comment on Bongi," Pietersen said.
With no confirmed outcome from the hearing, Mbonambi's immediate future at the franchise remains unresolved.
Born on 7 January 1991, Mbonambi is not getting any younger, and the 2027 Rugby World Cup represents what many believe could be his final opportunity to compete on the sport's biggest stage. The hooker, who previously represented the Bulls and Stormers before joining the Sharks in 2021, has built his reputation on scrummaging, tackling and his effectiveness in the driving maul.
His chief competition for the Springboks number 2 jersey remains Malcolm Marx, who has continued to set a high benchmark at international level. With selection pressure mounting and time working against him, Mbonambi's next steps, on and off the field, will be closely watched.
Source: Briefly News
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