| Full name | Luther Banks Olisa St Charles Obi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1993-04-29)29 April 1993 (age 31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Aba,Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb; 198 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Benedict's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of South Africa (LLB) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Luther Banks St Charles Obi (born 29 April 1993) is a Nigerian-born South African professionalrugby union player for theGriquas in theCurrie Cup and theRugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is as a winger.
Aside from his rugby interests, the Winger holds a Law degree and exercises a keen interest in the Mining industry.
Luther represented the Junior Springboks at the 2013 Junior Rugby World Championships; impressive performances saw the winger finish the Championships as the second leading try scorer.
Luther has attained his LLB Law Degree from The University of South Africa (UNISA); making him one of few professional rugby players with a higher qualification. Luther graduated in the summer of 2022. He has been quoted saying; “rugby is short, life is long.”
The Nigerian-born winger has been capped in: Super Rugby, Pro14, Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, Supersport Challenge, and Varsity Cup.
As a student atSt Benedict's College inBedfordview, Obi represented theGolden 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.
Obi joinedPotchefstroom-based side theLeopards in 2012 and represented theLeopards U19 side in the2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition. He finished as the third-highest try scorer in that competition, scoring ten tries.[2]
In 2013, he playedVarsity Cup rugby for theNWU Pukke, scoring four tries for the side.[3]
Obi's first class debut came in the2013 Currie Cup First Division competition. He missed out on the first game of the season, but started in their second match against theFalcons.[4] He started each of the remaining matches of the season, making 14 appearances in total. His first senior try came in their match against theGriffons,[5] scoring a dramatic try in injury time that secured a 34–28 victory for the Leopards. He was once again the match-winner against theBoland Cavaliers, with the second of his two tries coming with four minutes left to beat the Cavaliers 22–17.[6][7] He scored another brace in their match against theFalcons[8][9] to end the season with a tally of eight tries, joint-sixth in the competition.[10]
Obi was subsequently included in theLions wider training group prior to the2014 Super Rugby season.[11]
In February 2015, Obi – along with fellowLeopards wingerSylvian Mahuza – started training withPort Elizabeth-based side theEastern Province Kings, following a dispute about the validity of their contracts with theLeopards.[12] An agreement was reached and Obi officially joined the Kings on 27 February.[13]
After just one season at the Kings, Obi joined thePretoria-basedBulls side for the2016 Super Rugby season.[14]
He was on the move again in 2017, securing an early release from his Bulls contract to join theCheetahs on a two-year deal.[15]
In 2013, he was included in theSouth Africa Under-20 side that competed at the2013 IRB Junior World Championship.[16] He scored four tries in his five appearances and finished joint-second in the try-scoring charts behind compatriotSeabelo Senatla,[17] helping the S.A. Under-20 side to third place in the competition.