'I am no lesser human being for acknowledging I am not okay'

The Bulls have today welcomed back both head coach Jake White and winger Sbu Nkosi to the fold - both returning to the team after somewhat different circumstances led to their absences.

White returns after emergency abdominal surgery that had ruled him out for four weeks, while Nkosi returns after off-field struggles saw him go AWOL from the Pretorian side at the end of last year.

For former Springbok winger Nkosi especially, who effectively went missing for a number of weeks, the return to his rugby family has meant a great deal. It was a worrying period for the team but thankfully the flying wing seems to have found himself in a better place.

“Firstly, I want to say thank you. Thank you to the team, the Vodacom Bulls family and the people of South Africa who have shown me unwavering support over these last few months. It took some time but I am happy that I am back where I belong and that would have never been possible without the love and kindness I have received,”

“The overflow of support allowed me to find comfort and confidence in that I am no lesser human being for acknowledging and accepting that I am not okay. The support I received allowed me to find my feet again and the only thing I can do now, is to pay it forward so that others can be empowered to know that the sun will rise again, even when it does not look like it,”

“Rugby has been everything to me but for a while, because of life, I had lost that connection and needed to take time away so that I can find my centre again and rezone. Thankfully, the company and team, Edgar [Rathbone] and Jake [White] allowed me that time to be away and it has meant the world of good for me, my family and my health. Not many people get this opportunity and that is not lost on me,”

“I come back committed and willing to put in the yards as my way of paying back all the support I received.”

“It feels wildly refreshing to be able to say I am back and I am raring to go! The fire within is brewing and I cannot wait to set foot in the stadium again.”

Rathbone described the return of Nkosi as joyous.

“What a joy it is to have Sbu back amongst us and more so because we know the difficult journey he has gone through to get back on his feet. He returns to a family that has been waiting for this moment with bated breath and we just are extremely blessed to have him run around again,”

“I applaud his bravery to want to get back up and not only that but to pursue his rugby dream yet again. He is a talented player with plenty to offer the world of rugby, and I am confident that his story now transcends rugby more than it may have before. His story inspires many amongst us as the Vodacom Bulls family and I hope that many South Africans and rugby fans across the globe will look at him and be encouraged to get up and try again whenever they tumble” remarked Rathbone.

“Sbu has some time to spend with the high-performance team to make sure that his integration into the environment is done accordingly, but there are no better specialists in sports science than those we have working with us. So I am comfortable that he is in the best hands possible."

“Of course, there is the temptation to want to fast-track things and focus on a return-to-play timeline, but that is not important right now. We are just happy to have him with us and as the process takes care of the business, I am confident that we will see him running out soon” Rathbone concluded.

World Cup winner White's return to helm the side that had an up-and-down few months results-wise was described as a 'morale boost' for the South African URC side, which currently sit in fourth in the standings.

“It is great to have Jake return," said Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone of White's return. "We are happy to not only see him back where he belongs but to have him with us means that he is back at full health and that is comforting knowing the tough period he went through. His influence on everyone at Loftus is immeasurable and knowing that he is back, certainly does give all of us an extra kick in our step,”

“I know he is raring to go after what has probably felt a long time away from what he loves doing. We are incredibly lucky to have his calibre of coach a part of the Vodacom Bulls family and know that there is more great things ahead for us all, with him here. Welcome back, Jake!”.