South African rugby union player Nick Koster has passed away at the age of 34. Koster represented Western Province, Bath, Bristol, and later Cambridge University. He used to play the position of flanker/eighthman.
Koster was born on February 22, 1989, in Robertson, South Africa. He represented the Western Province, a South African rugby union team, based in Cape Town. Koster made his Super Rugby debut in 2009 for another South African team named Stormers.
The WP Rugby community is saddened to learn of the passing of former DHL Stormers and DHL WP player Nick Koster. An incredibly talented player who represented DHL WP from age-group level and earned 26 DHL Stormers caps, he will be dearly missed. pic.twitter.com/ckrNcZCrfZ
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) July 12, 2023
Koster joined Bath, a team based in Somerset, England, in 2012. A year later he earned a loan move to RFU Championship club Bristol. RFU Championship is the second-tier competition in England. Koster’s loan move became permanent and he stayed at the club until 2017.
In 2017, he was released from the squad. He left Bristol and joined Cambridge University to study an MSt in Social Innovation. He also joined the famed University’s rugby team and captained the squad in 2018. The squad, all consisting of students and budding players, learned a lot from his experience.
Koster and his wife were also involved in charity and fundraising. Koster had even become an ambassador for Project Zulu in 2014. It is a UK-based charity that helped people in the Madadeni township of South Africa.
The news of his sudden demise is a shock for the rugby world. The cause of his death is still unknown.
The rugby union world mourns the death of Nick Koster
His former teams were first on the scene paying tribute. A Bath statement read: “Everyone at Bath Rugby would like to extend their heartfelt sympathies to Nick’s family, friends and teammates.
“He will be sorely missed and will always remain part of the Bath Rugby family.”
Bristol also released a statement of their own: “Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Nick’s wife Jeannie and his two young children.”
Gary Gold, who previously worked with Koster, tweeted, “Absolutely devastated to hear the news of Nick’s passing. One of the best schoolboy rugby players to have ever played the game and an outstanding person and friend. You will be sorely missed Nick. RIP buddy”
Absolutely devastated to hear the news of Nick’s passing. One of the best schoolboy rugby players to have ever played the game and an outstanding person and friend. You will be sorely missed Nick. RIP buddy 🙏💔😢 https://t.co/adivoGDOaM
— Gary Gold (@Garygoldrugby) July 12, 2023
Koster’s former Bath teammate Matt Banahan said he was “one of the nicest guys to ever pull on the Bath jersey.”
His former Bristol teammate Jamal Ford-Robinson tweeted, “absolutely gutted to hear about Nick Koster.
genuinely one of the nicest and most humble blokes i’ve come across in life.
very fond memories of our celebrations after winning the championship with bristol back in 2016.
RIP Kozzy.”
absolutely gutted to hear about Nick Koster.
genuinely one of the nicest and most humble blokes i’ve come across in life.
very fond memories of our celebrations after winning the championship with bristol back in 2016.
RIP Kozzy.
— Jamal Ford-Robinson (@jfordrob) July 12, 2023
Koster’s impact on and off the field will be remembered fondly by the rugby union world.