Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Playing position | Weight 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) Name Luther Obi | |
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Full name Luther Banks St Charles Obi Born 29 April 1993 (age 31) Aba, Nigeria ( 1993-04-29 ) | ||
Luther Banks St Charles Obi (born (1993-04-29)29 April 1993 in Aba) is a Nigerian-born South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Cheetahs. His regular position is as a winger.
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Youth and Varsity rugby
As a student at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview, Obi represented the Golden Lions in youth competitions. He played for them at the 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competition and for their Under-16 side at the 2009 Grant Khomo Week.
He joined Potchefstroom-based side the Leopards in 2012 and represented the Leopards U19 side in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition. He finished as the third-highest try scorer in that competition, scoring ten tries.
In 2013, he played Varsity Cup rugby for the NWU Pukke, scoring four tries for the side.
Leopards
His first class debut came in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division competition. He missed out on the first game of the season, but started in their second match against the Falcons. He started each of the remaining matches of the season, making 14 appearances in total. His first senior try came in their match against the Griffons, scoring a dramatic try in injury time that secured a 34–28 victory for the Leopards. He was once again the match-winner against the Boland Cavaliers, with the second of his two tries coming with four minutes left to beat the Cavaliers 22–17. He scored another brace in their match against the Falcons to end the season with a tally of eight tries, joint-sixth in the competition.
He was subsequently included in the Lions wider training group prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Eastern Province Kings
In February 2015, Obi – along with fellow Leopards winger Sylvian Mahuza – started training with Port Elizabeth-based side the Eastern Province Kings, following a dispute about the validity of their contracts with the Leopards. An agreement was reached and Obi officially joined the Kings on 27 February.
Bulls
After just one season at the Kings, Obi joined the Pretoria-based Bulls side for the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Cheetahs
He was on the move again in 2017, securing an early release from his Bulls contract to join the Cheetahs on a two-year deal.
Representative rugby
In 2013, he was included in the South Africa Under-20 side that competed at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He scored four tries in his five appearances and finished joint-second in the try-scoring charts behind compatriot Seabelo Senatla, helping the S.A. Under-20 side to third place in the competition.