Motivational speaker, bilingual MC, sports presenter and business keynote speaker.
Corporate teams, leadership groups, conferences, sports organisations and events seeking a respected figure who offers practical lessons on teamwork, motivation and business resilience.
Kobus Wiese is a celebrated South African rugby legend, entrepreneur and motivational speaker whose impact spans both the sports arena and the business world. Born in Paarl and educated at Paarl Gimnasium before completing his teaching diploma through Goudstad, Kobus went on to build an illustrious rugby career. He represented Boland, Western Transvaal and Transvaal (now the Golden Lions), earning 127 caps, including 19 test matches for the Springboks. As part of the iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup winning squad, Kobus became a national hero, admired for his strength, discipline and unwavering commitment to team success.
Following his rugby career, Kobus turned his focus to business, launching Wiesenhof Coffees in 1996 after identifying a need for better franchise support and higher-quality products. What began as importing his own coffee beans to sustain a single store has grown into a respected national brand with 20 locations. His entrepreneurial journey reflects resilience, innovation and a hands-on leadership philosophy grounded in lessons learned on the field.
Kobus has also become a trusted motivational speaker and highly regarded bilingual Master of Ceremonies, drawing on his deep experience in elite sport and business to help organisations understand how teamwork, strategy and mindset drive sustainable success.
Kobus Wiese was born on May 16th 1964 in Paarl, matriculating at Paarl Gimnasium.
He went on to study further at Paarl Onderwys, and obtained his teaching diploma from Goudstad.
He has played rugby for Boland, Western Transvaal and Transvaal (now Gauteng), touring as a Springbok to Australia in 1993, New Zealand, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in 1994, Italy and England in 1995 and Argentina, France and Wales in 1996.
He has 127 caps to his credit, including 19 tests. He was, of course, one of the World Cup Winning Squad in 1995, becoming a national hero overnight.
He was appointed to the Gauteng Lions’ captaincy from Francois Pienaar.
Although a fearsome presence on the field, Kobus is a restaurateur and coffee shop owner whose greatest passions are coffee (not surprisingly) and red wine.
Kobus is also a sought-after speaker – using his experiences both on the rugby field as well as in his own extremely successful business – to demonstrate how motivation and team spirit are essential to any kind of success.
He is also a highly recommended bilingual Master of Ceremonies.
In 1996 Kobus established Wiesenhof Coffees. While operating his first Coffee Shop in the East Rand Mall, previously part of another Franchise Group, he found that he received no support from the Franchiser.
This resulted in Kobus starting to import his own coffee beans to support his business. And this led to the creation of Wiesenhof Coffees, which now has 20 stores in operation.
In between his hectic schedule, Kobus is also a Sports Presenter on M Net, which he terms to be more of a hobby. Kobus Wiese is a sought after Motivational Speaker and Master of Ceremonies and is often invited to appear at numerous corporate functions and events.
In the world of business, Kobus Wiese is a highly regarded coffee ‘baron, having pioneered the Wiesenhof chain of coffee shops.
On the rugby field, he has left many an opposition player quaking in his boots. But in reality, I am assured that off, the field, he is a gentle giant!
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In this focused 2m18 interview, former Springbok lock and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner Kobus Wiese discusses the uncertain state of the All Blacks and what South Africa can expect from the impending Rugby Championship fixtures. He begins by acknowledging the All Blacks’ recent series loss to Ireland, emphasising that Ireland deserved full credit for playing intelligent, structured and aggressive rugby. At the same time, he notes that New Zealand fans are rightfully worried, as their national side appears to be struggling with combinations, cohesion and clarity in key positions.
Wiese highlights two major All Blacks concerns: the midfield pairing, which he believes lacks a clear playmaker, and the tight five, where he feels individuals are not yet functioning as a unit. He warns, however, that a wounded All Blacks team arriving in South Africa will be highly motivated, fuelled by global criticism and determined to respond. Playing the current world champions at altitude adds to the challenge.
Turning to how the All Blacks can be beaten, Wiese explains that South Africa’s strength lies in their physical pack, set-piece dominance and confrontational defence. He expects the Springboks to maintain the tactical approach that won them the 2019 World Cup: pressure through the kicking game, powerful forwards and scoreboard accumulation through long-range penalties. In contrast, New Zealand typically favour expansive rugby but will need front-foot ball to execute it effectively.
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