David Bulbring

David James Bulbring (born 12 September 1989) is a South African professional rugby union player who has played as a lock for the in Japan Rugby League One since 2020.

Bulbring previously played for several South African and European sides, including the Golden Lions, Lions, Eastern Province Kings, and the Southern Kings in Super Rugby. He later joined Welsh Pro14 side Scarlets, where he made over 70 appearances before moving to Japan.

Career

Youth and Lions He was born in Port Elizabeth and represented at the 2007 Under 18 Craven Week. He then joined the , making his debut for the team in the 2009 Vodacom Cup, which resulted in him being called up to the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team for the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.

In 2010, he represented both in the Varsity Cup and in the 2010 Vodacom Cup, culminating a call-up to the Super Rugby team, representing them in their final Super Rugby game of the season against the . He then played for the in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division

He was captain for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition and made two further Super Rugby appearances. He was then part of the squad that won the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division.

Kings In 2012, he moved to the . He made seven appearances for them in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition, as well as one against a South African Students side. He started all fourteen matches in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season, as well as both matches in the promotion/relegation matches against the .

He was named in the squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He made his debut in the Kings' historic first ever match against the , helping them to a 22–10 victory. He played in all sixteen matches during the season (being one of only three players to do so, Bandise Maku and Shaun Venter being the other two), as well as both the 2013 Super Rugby promotion/relegation matches against the , making a total of thirteen starts and five substitute appearances.

Bulls After the 2013 Super Rugby season, he joined the , signing a contract at the team until October 2016.

Return to the Kings After a year at the , it was announced that he rejoined the prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season on a deal that would see him remain at the Port Elizabeth-based side until the end of 2016.

Scarlets In February 2016, he joined Welsh Pro12 side Scarlets on a long-term deal until the summer of 2019.

Representative rugby He was a member of the South Africa Under-20 team that played at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship. He was named in a South African Barbarians (South) team that faced England during the 2012 mid-year rugby test series.