Bongi Mbonambi, known for his robustness and exceptional talent as a hooker, demonstrated his potential from a young age at St. Alban's College in Pretoria.
His journey in representative rugby began as a two-time Bulls' Craven Week representative. In 2009, Mbonambi earned his first national recognition when he was selected for the South African Schoolboys team.
Mbonambi quickly established himself as a formidable player, impressing with his accurate set-pieces, strong defensive abilities, and imposing physicality.
After school, he joined the Varsity team TUT Vikings and also represented the Bulls' youth team. In 2012, Mbonambi made his senior debut for the Bulls against the Crusaders in Pretoria.
During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Mbonambi played in the Varsity Cup while simultaneously representing the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.
His consistent rise in South African rugby attracted the attention of Western Province and the Stormers, and he joined the franchise in 2014. Mbonambi quickly secured a regular starting role with the Stormers and marked his debut with a try in a friendly against the Saracens.
His performances for the Stormers earned him a call-up to the Springboks, and he made his test debut as a substitute in the team's first match after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, replacing Adriaan Strauss against Ireland.
Following an impressive 2017 Super Rugby campaign with the Stormers, Mbonambi signed a new three-year contract with the union. Although he missed the start of the Super Rugby season due to injury, he returned in time to be named in the Springboks' June Test squad, accumulating 14 test caps.
Under the coaching of Rassie Erasmus, Mbonambi alternated starting roles with Malcolm Marx in the Springbok setup. By the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Mbonambi had established himself as the team's starting hooker.
He played in six of the Springboks' seven Rugby World Cup matches, including starting the final against England, although his game was cut short due to a head injury. Mbonambi ended 2019 with a new contract with the Stormers, 36 test caps, seven test tries, and a Rugby World Cup winners medal.
In June 2021, Mbonambi signed with the Sharks, a Durban-based franchise. He was also named in South Africa's 46-man squad for the British and Irish Lions Tour, further cementing his place in international rugby.
Mbonambi's international career continues to be successful as he was named as part of the 2023 rugby world cup squad.