ACHIEVEMENTS & MILESTONES
Discover the remarkable achievements of our featured athletes. From record-breaking performances to prestigious awards, each milestone tells a story of dedication and perseverance.
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RWC Winner
2023
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Rugby Championship Winner
2018
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Rugby Championship Winner
2024
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Rugby Championship Winner
2025
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British & Irish Lions Tour to SA Winner
2021
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European Challenge Cup Winner (Sharks)
2024
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IRB World Rugby Player of the Year Nominee
2024
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IRB World Rugby Player of the Year Nominee
2025
POSITION:
Prop
CLUB TEAM:
Sharks
NATIONAL TEAM:
Springboks
HOMETOWN:
Thaba ’Nchu
DOB:
July 23, 1995
CATEGORY:
Icon
SPORTING CODE:
Rugby
RUGBY CAPS:
47 (Springboks)
Retshegofaditswe “Ox” Nché is a leading South African rugby union player, widely regarded as one of the most dominant loosehead props in world rugby. Born on 23 July 1995 in Thaba ’Nchu in the Free State, Nché has built his reputation through physical power, technical excellence in the scrum, and an increasingly influential presence around the field.
Nché’s rugby journey began in the Free State system, where he represented his province at youth level, including appearances at the prestigious Craven Week tournaments and selection for the South African Schools team. He later attended the University of the Free State, playing Varsity Cup rugby for the UFS Shimlas and helping them secure a historic title in 2015.
He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Free State Cheetahs, quickly establishing himself as a powerful scrummager. His consistent performances earned him a move into top-tier domestic competitions, and he later joined the Sharks franchise in the United Rugby Championship, where he became a cornerstone of their forward pack.
On the international stage, Nché debuted for the Springboks in 2018 and has since become a key figure in South Africa’s forward dominance. Initially used as part of the famous “Bomb Squad” off the bench, he developed into a starting-calibre prop, known for turning matches through scrummaging pressure and physicality.
One of the defining highlights of his career came in 2023 when he played a crucial role in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph, reinforcing his status among the elite front-row players globally. He has also contributed to multiple Rugby Championship victories and earned recognition as one of the most impactful props in the modern game, even receiving a rare nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year—an uncommon honour for a front-row forward.
Off the field, Nché is known for his humble personality and growing entrepreneurial interests, including ventures in fashion, food, and lifestyle branding.
In summary, Ox Nché represents the modern prop: powerful in the set-piece, mobile in open play, and influential at the highest level of international rugby. His rise from Free State development structures to World Cup winner underscores both his work ethic and his importance to South African rugby.
Nché’s rugby journey began in the Free State system, where he represented his province at youth level, including appearances at the prestigious Craven Week tournaments and selection for the South African Schools team. He later attended the University of the Free State, playing Varsity Cup rugby for the UFS Shimlas and helping them secure a historic title in 2015.
He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Free State Cheetahs, quickly establishing himself as a powerful scrummager. His consistent performances earned him a move into top-tier domestic competitions, and he later joined the Sharks franchise in the United Rugby Championship, where he became a cornerstone of their forward pack.
On the international stage, Nché debuted for the Springboks in 2018 and has since become a key figure in South Africa’s forward dominance. Initially used as part of the famous “Bomb Squad” off the bench, he developed into a starting-calibre prop, known for turning matches through scrummaging pressure and physicality.
One of the defining highlights of his career came in 2023 when he played a crucial role in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph, reinforcing his status among the elite front-row players globally. He has also contributed to multiple Rugby Championship victories and earned recognition as one of the most impactful props in the modern game, even receiving a rare nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year—an uncommon honour for a front-row forward.
Off the field, Nché is known for his humble personality and growing entrepreneurial interests, including ventures in fashion, food, and lifestyle branding.
In summary, Ox Nché represents the modern prop: powerful in the set-piece, mobile in open play, and influential at the highest level of international rugby. His rise from Free State development structures to World Cup winner underscores both his work ethic and his importance to South African rugby.
