Rugby ace Sbu Nkosi has been located and is "safe and sound" after the South Africa winger's whereabouts were unknown for three weeks.
United Rugby Championship outfit the Bulls opened a missing persons case on November 17, six days after the Pretoria-based club last had contact with their star. Nkosi, 26, was found at his father's house in Emalahleni on Monday afternoon.
A club statement read: "Once it was established that Nkosi was safe, unharmed and in a position to speak, chief executive Edgar Rathbone went into Nkosi’s home (with the permission of the player), spending alone time with him, to understand how best the company can provide him with the support he needs and what that support is.
Do you think South Africa will retain the Rugby World Cup in 2023? Let us know in the comments section.
Nkosi has scored nine tries in 16 appearances for the Springboks and was part of the team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. However, his career has been dotted with several notable controversies since then.
The speedster was prevented from travelling with South Africa on their tour of the northern hemisphere last year because he didn't have enough blank pages in his passport. He then missed this year's autumn internationals due to a rib injury.
Nkosi was recently sent home from the Bulls' October trip to Ireland when he reported back late having been given permission to visit a friend in Dublin. It wasn't long after that controversy that the former Sharks finisher last had contact with his club.
The Bulls statement also paid special thanks to club sponsor SSG, which went "beyond their commercial responsibility" to locate Nkosi. The company—which boasts Springbok legend John Smit as its CEO—has a security branch that aided the search for the missing Bull.
"We wish to extend a vote of thanks to all the members of the public who shared information that contributed to our search," the club statement continued. "We wish to also express a word of thanks to the international community who also joined the call and efforts in searching for Nkosi."
The club said it would not be making any further comments on Nkosi's disappearance and discovery. However, a press conference will take place at its home ground, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, on Tuesday morning.