'Jasper and I didn’t grow up in a gym. We worked on the farm'

For Bulls lock Cobus Wiese, family connections are as important as his career on the rugby field.

The new Bulls signing joined from Sale Sharks this summer and credits his close-knit family for much of his personal and professional growth.

Wiese grew up on a Northern Cape farm with his brother Jasper and spent his childhood honing his strength not in a gym but through hard work on the land. This physical foundation has shaped him into the towering 6'6, 116-kilogramme second row who is ready to make his mark in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

“Jasper and I didn’t grow up in a gym. We worked on the farm,” Cobus says. “We’re a very close family and we’ve been through a lot together. If Jasper and I don’t talk every day, then I’ll phone him twice the next day. That’s how close we are. It’s a credit to my parents. They couldn’t always buy us the latest PlaySations, but they raised us with good values."

As he prepares for his first season with the Bulls under the guidance of Jake White, Wiese’s decision to return to South Africa is rooted in his deep familial ties. The chance to see his daughter grow up close to her grandparents was a driving force in his move.

“Our decision to come back to South Africa was mainly based around family. Last year July our daughter arrived, and family is first for me. So for me to see my daughter in the arms of their ouma and oupa is a greater reward than pounds in my bank account. When there was a chance to come to the Vodacom Bulls, I took it. You can’t put a price on family time.”

And the hardships all families go through has also shaped Cobus’ rugby perspective and the role of the game in his life. In 2019, the family dealt with the sudden loss of their sister when she was hit by a bus in Cape Town.

“It was unexpected to lose our sister at 29 in an accident. But we believe she’s in a better place, and that gives you a lot of comfort. Our family is even closer after that. But that’s life. Everybody goes through their own hardships. So when it comes to rugby, the most important thing is not to put your identity in your rugby results. We’re blessed to do what we do and get paid for it. The great thing about rugby is that you get another chance next weekend. The season is long.”

Wiese is looking forward to the season and ahead and proving his worth for renowned rugby thinker Jake White.

“I’m excited. It’s always good to be able to step into a successful team like the Vodacom Bulls, which has been in the VURC playoffs every season.

"I think Jake (White) is an incredible rugby brain, and I certainly came back to South Africa with the desire to grow my game even more. The quality of players in this group is incredible. I think my role is to try and add my little bit to hopefully take this team all the way this season. I learnt a lot up north and I’m looking forward to sharing some of that with my teammates. And from the start it was really easy to settle in here at Loftus. It felt like I’d been a part of this team for years.”