Kobus Wiese

Born in Paarl on 16 May 1964, Kobus Wiese learned the game at Paarl Gimnasium. He played for Boland and Western Transvaal before arriving at Transvaal in 1988.

He stayed a decade and made 128 appearances. He was a specialist number-two lineout jumper and a hard edge in the tight five.

Transvaal lost the Currie Cup finals of 1991 and 1992 with him in the side. They then won it twice in a row, in 1993 and 1994, along with the 1993 Super 10.

Wiese won his first Springbok cap against France in Durban on 26 June 1993, the same day as François Pienaar and Hennie le Roux. He won 18 caps through 1996. At the 1995 Rugby World Cup he played five matches, including the final against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.

After rugby he built a second career in coffee with his wife Belinda, opening Wiesenhof Coffee in 1998.