Who is Nick Köster? Former Bristol and Bath back row dies aged 34

Nick Köster was a South African rugby union player who last played for Bristol as a Flanker/Eight Man, and Bath as a back row.

Köster was born on February 22, 1989, in Cape Province, South Africa.

He played rugby at Bishops College in Cape Town and went on to serve as captain of Cambridge University R.U.F.C., where he studied an MSt in Social Innovation.

In 2008, Koster made his Currie Cup debut, playing at 8th man, and his Super Rugby debut as a winger for the Stormers in 2009.

Koster began playing for Bath in 2012, and represented the team in the Amlin Challenge Cup. The following year, he joined then RFU Championship club Bristol and took part in the Aviva Premiership.

Outside of sports, Nick had been an ambassador for the free educational programme Project Zulu.

Koster passed away from an unknown cause on July 12, 2023, at the age of 34. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie, and two children.