When Jake White was coaching South Africa to a second Rugby World Cup trophy in 2007, Cobus Wiese was a 10-year-old boy running around his parents’ Northern Cape farm and tackling his older brother Jasper.
Now Cobus is preparing for his first Vodacom United Rugby Championship season under White’s watchful eye at the Vodacom Bulls, who begin their campaign against Edinburgh Rugby at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
And that 10-year-old boy is now an almost two-metre tall, 116kg powerhouse who will add significantly to the physical presence of the Vodacom Bulls this season.
“Jasper and I didn’t grow up in a gym. We worked on the farm,” Cobus says with a smile.
“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.
EASY TO SETTLE AT LOFTUS
"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.”
That feeling of belonging, especially in a family sense, is core to Cobus’ personality.
He’s incredibly close with his brother Jasper, and their wives even gave birth less than a week from each other.
“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,” he says.
Family is indeed a large part of the reason why Cobus decided to return to South Africa after a successful run with the Sale Sharks.
“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.”
The hardships all families go through have 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.”
And this season Cobus Wiese, once a 10-year-old farm boy, could well help his new team finally harvest that Vodacom United Rugby Championship crown.