Kuhle Mthimkhulu came through one of KwaZulu-Natal's great rugby nurseries, captaining Maritzburg College and representing the Sharks at the U16 Grant Khomo Week in 2021 and Academy Week in 2022. His potential was formally recognised in October 2024 when he was named as a lock in SA Rugby's first-ever national Under-19 Academy intake, and in February 2025 he was selected in the Junior Springbok squad for their tour to Georgia, remaining part of the SA U20 Academy programme that year.
The 1.93 m, 108 kg second-rower made his Sharks senior debut in the 2025 Currie Cup, coming off the bench against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in July 2025 in the competition's opening round.
An athletic lineout forward with a strong work-rate, Mthimkhulu is regarded as a long-term second-row investment, and the 2026/27 Currie Cup offers the next step in his progression toward regular senior rugby.