Forgotten Bok Curwin Bosch enjoying French reniassance

By Doug Mattushek
25th May 2025

Springbok Curwin Bosch is flourishing in his fresh environment playing for Brive in France's Pro D2 league.

The talented Bosch was earmarked as a star from a young age, playing SA Schools, SA U20 and finally earning two caps for the Springboks at the tender age of 20 in 2017.

Unfortunately for Bosch, he endured a difficult period with his beloved Sharks where he was struggling for form. This came to a head in 2024, where less than inspiring performances off the bench and the rising stardom of Siya Masuku forced Bosch to opt for a contract in France's second division for a much-needed change of scenery.

"I've just fallen into the trap of over-analysing my own game, over-analysing the opposition, and then you come on a Saturday and you've got all these things in your mind," said a dejected Bosch at the time.

"I've got a very obsessive personality and once I get into something and start analysing I go into this spiral of over-analysing and all that sort of nonsense."

But Bosch's time in France has been healing. He has featured predominantly at flyhalf for Brive in the seemingly never-ending Pro D2 season. In recent matches, he has been given license to attack from fullback. He's deadly off the tee as well, kicking 191 points and scoring two tries in his 24 matches for an impressive points tally.

As such, his confidence is coming back.

"I have a lot of confidence and the team has also done well," the 27-year-old told Rapport.

"It's the first time in a long time that I've been so comfortable with my own game. It's a new environment. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make the Springbok squad and that was my only goal," said Bosch, who earned his only two Test caps back in 2017 and 2018. "It was something I thought about every day and I tried to become a perfect rugby player.

"I wanted to do everything right, but in the process, I started doing less, because I wanted to be perfect. It will always be a dream to play for the Boks [again], but it's good that I took myself out of that [South African] environment. Here I'm just playing rugby again and I'm not overthinking everything."

Brive finished second on the table this season and face Montauban in the semifinals of the competition on Friday 30 May.

Bosch's performances have reportedly grabbed the attention of the Barbarians, who are set to face the world champion Springboks in Cape Town on 28 June. If selected, Bosch would feature alongside former All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Irish veterans Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray.