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Siya Kolisi

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Siyamthanda "Siya" Kolisi OIG, (born 16 June 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently captains the South Africa national team. Having formerly played for the Stormers and Racing 92, he currently plays for Sharks in the URC.[3][4][5] He generally plays as a flanker and a loose forward.[6][7] In 2018, Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming the first black man to hold the position[8][9] and eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England,[10] and again in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand.

Siyamthanda Kolisi
Kolisi playing for South Africa in 2022
Full nameSiyamthanda Kolisi
Date of birth (1991-06-16) 16 June 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthPort Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb)[1]
SchoolGrey High School
Notable relative(s)Tatjana Smith (sister-in-law)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward
Current team Sharks[2]
Youth career
2007–2009 Eastern Province Kings
2010–2012 Western Province
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2021 Western Province 34 (35)
2012–2020 Stormers 118 (95)
2021–2023 Sharks 31 (20)
2023–2024 Racing 92 18 (5)
2024– Sharks 1 (5)
Correct as of 19 September 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011 South Africa U20 8 (10)
2013– South Africa 89 (60)
Correct as of 30 September 2024
Medal record
Men's Rugby 15's
Representing  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2015 England Squad
Gold medal – first place 2019 Japan Squad
Gold medal – first place 2023 France Squad

In December 2019, Kolisi was named in New African magazine's list of 100 Most Influential Africans. In April 2023, Kolisi was bestowed the National Order of Ikhamanga by the South African Government for his contributions to rugby.[11][12] In October 2023, Siya Kolisi captained South Africa to a historic fourth Rugby World Cup in Paris, France, and became only the second captain to win the title back-to-back. Kolisi is one of 44 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions and one of 25 South Africans to do so.

Early life

Kolisi grew up in Zwide, iBhayi, a township in Port Elizabeth. Kolisi's mother, Phakama, was 16 when Siya was born and his father, Fezakele, was in his final year of school. Kolisi's mother died when he was 15, leaving his late grandmother, Nolulamile, to raise him.[13] At the age of 12, he impressed scouts at a youth tournament in Mossel Bay and was offered a scholarship at Grey Junior in Port Elizabeth. He was subsequently offered a rugby scholarship to Grey High School, which South African cricketer Graeme Pollock and England International Mike Catt had attended. Kolisi was a regular member of the first XV high school rugby team. He was also a part of the Eastern Province Kings youth set-up between 2007 and 2009, playing in the Under-16 Grant Khomo week and the Under-18 Craven Week before shifting west to join Western Province.[14][15] He further represented the South Africa national under-18 rugby union team (SA Schools team) for two consecutive years.[16]

Club career

Kolisi made his senior debut for Western Province against the Golden Lions during the 2011 Vodacom Cup and later in the year several injuries and international call-ups gave him the opportunity to make regular starts in the Currie Cup domestic rugby competition. He made 13 appearances and scored 4 tries during the campaign including a crucial score against bitter rivals the Blue Bulls.[3][7]

2012 saw Kolisi graduate to the Stormers squad and he made an immediate impact with 16 appearances during the season, scoring one try. The second half of the year was not so kind to him as a thumb injury restricted him to just one appearance in the 2012 Currie Cup and he had to watch on from the sidelines as Province lifted the trophy for their 33rd Currie Cup title.[17]

Kolisi returned with a bang the following year and held his place in the Stormers side despite fierce competition among the loose forwards. 13 appearances and 2 tries were recorded and this earned him his first international recognition. Being part of the Springbok set-up for the 2013 Rugby Championship meant he only played in Western Province's final 3 matches of the 2013 Currie Cup and was powerless to prevent them from slipping to a surprise 33–19 home defeat to the Sharks in the final of the competition.[7]

Kolisi was selected as the new captain of the Stormers on 20 February 2017.[18] He was selected as the new captain of the Springboks on 28 May 2018, becoming the team's first black captain in its 126-year history.[19] Bryan Habana, former Springbok and of mixed race, praised Kolisi's appointment: "It's a monumental moment for South African rugby, and a moment in South African history."[8]

Kolisi was on the board of directors of MyPlayers Rugby, which is the players' organisation of all the professional rugby players in South Africa.

Kolisi signed for the Sharks in February 2021 following the successful majority share purchase of the Sharks by MVM Holidings.[5][20]

Kolisi signed for Top 14 side Racing 92 in January 2023, joining them after the World Cup later that year.[21]

Kolisi rejoined the Sharks, his contract with Racing 92 was due to run out in 2026 but the French club agreed to terminate it early after only one season.[22]

International career

Kolisi was a member of the South Africa under 20 side that competed in both the 2010 and 2011 IRB Junior World Championships.[23]

Kolisi made his national team debut as Springbok 851 on 15 June 2013 against Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. He replaced the injured Arno Botha in the 5th minute and was named as Man of the Match as South Africa won 30–17.[24] Nine further substitute appearances followed during the 2013 international season as he firmly established himself as a regular member of the national squad.[6] Kolisi also played two matches for South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Japan and Samoa.[25] Kolisi became the first ever black player to lead the Springboks in a Test match in the match against England at Ellis Park on 9 June 2018.[26]

He captained the South African team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament in Yokohama, Japan, defeating England 32–12 in the final to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.[27] This was South Africa's third World Cup win, tying with New Zealand. In 2019, Siya Kolisi became the first black captain of a World Cup-winning side.[10][28]

The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa was already on the cards for following the success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. However the global impact of Covid-19 and the imposed lock-downs, made it impossible for fans to attend the games at the various stadia in South Africa. The tour was eventually agreed to still be staged and was broadcast world over reaching unprecedented viewership highs. There was doubt that the South Africans would be worthy challengers to the touring party due to no rugby being played by them in 2020. Siya Kolisi as captain, led his team of titans, who seemed unphased by the lost year and emulated the previous 2007 Rugby World Cup winning side by beating the Lions two matches to one in series. And just like in 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, the final kick to clinch the series was another long range penalty by the ice-cool Morne Steyn, who with Frans Steyn (who was in the squad but did'nt play) have now won an unprecedented second Lions tour on home soil.

He again captained the South African team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament in Paris, France, defeating the old foe, the valiant All Blacks 12–11 in the final to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. Kolisi accredited the campaign outcome to the team and the coaches for the super work done and thanks the departing Jacques Nienaber in a powerful three minute speech that left he world agog.[29] Going into the final, there was no doubt that whoever wins, shall be the undisputed leader in rugby, with this team having the opportunity to match the New Zealand team of 2011 and 2015 by winning back to back world cups and further to that the winning nation shall be first to an incredible and unprecedented fourth World Cup title. With the eventual and epic win, South Africa equally the back-to-back record win set my the New Zealand team of 2011 and 2015 rugby world cups, however the cherry on top was the South Africans became the first nation to a fourth World Cup win, leaving New Zealand as the only nation at three world cups. Thus in 2023, Siya Kolisi became the first South Africa captain to lift the Webb Ellis trophy twice and matched Richie McCaw of New Zealand, to being the only two winning captains of all time to lead their nations triumphantly in successive Rugby World Cup campaigns.[30][31]

Personal life

Kolisi married Rachel Smith in 2016 and as of 2022 they have two children together: son Nicholas Siyamthanda (born 2015) and daughter Keziah (born 2017).[32][8] Since 2014 Siya's half-siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, children of Siya's mother who died in 2009, have been part of the Kolisi household, after five years in orphanages and foster care in Port Elizabeth. Rachel, one year older than Siya, is from Grahamstown and worked in event management before taking on duties as a full-time mother.[33]

Siya Kolisi was also the brother-in-law of South Africa's most decorated female swimmer Tatjana Smith, who is married to Rachel brother Joel Smith.[34][35][36]

Kolisi is a Christian[37] and a fan of English football club Liverpool F.C.[38] His alma mater Grey High School renamed its first XV rugby field as The Kolisi Field in 2022, in celebration of its most famous past pupil.[39][40]

On 22 October 2024, Kolisi and his wife issued a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram to announce their decision to end their marriage.[41] They stated their intention to remain friends while putting their children first and working together on their foundation.[42]

Philanthropy

 
Mural of Kolisi, seen at Salt River, Cape Town

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, Kolisi and his wife launched The Kolisi Foundation in 2020. The foundation aims to change the narratives of inequality in South Africa. The focus areas of the Kolisi Foundation address the systemic issues in Gender-Based Violence, Food Insecurity and Education and Sport, with special attention paid to Zwide township where Kolisi grew up, and other under-resourced areas of South Africa.[43]

Kolisi, with his friend, cricketer Faf du Plessis, donated food parcels to the community street feeding scheme in Bonteheuwel during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[44]

In July 2020, Kolisi was named a UN Global Advocate for the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.[45][46]

Honours

Statistics

Test match record

As of 7 August 2022
Opponent P W D L Tri Pts Win %
  Argentina 10 8 0 2 4 20 80
  Australia 8 3 2 3 0 0 50
 British and Irish Lions 3 2 0 1 0 0 66.67
  Canada 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  England 6 3 0 3 0 0 50
  France 6 6 0 0 1 5 100
  Georgia 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  Ireland 4 2 0 2 0 0 50
  Italy 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
  Japan 3 2 0 1 0 0 66.67
  Namibia 1 1 0 0 1 5 100
  New Zealand 10 4 0 7 0 0 40
  Samoa 2 2 0 0 0 0 100
  Scotland 3 3 0 0 0 0 100
  Wales 7 5 0 2 1 5 71.43
Total 67 43 2 21 7 35 64.18

P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, Tri = Tries scored, Pts = Points scored

Test tries (11)

Tries Opposition Location Venue Competition Date Result
1   France Durban, South Africa Kings Park Stadium Test match 17 June 2017 Won 37–15
1   Argentina Port Elizabeth, South Africa Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 2017 Rugby Championship 19 August 2017 Won 37–15
2   Argentina Salta, Argentina Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena 2017 Rugby Championship 26 August 2017 Won 41–23
1   Argentina Mendoza, Argentina Estadio Malvinas Argentinas 2018 Rugby Championship 25 August 2018 Lost 19–32
1   Namibia Aichi Prefecture, Japan Toyota Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 28 September 2019 Won 57–3
1   Wales Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town Stadium 2022 Wales tour of South Africa 16 July 2022 Won 30–14
1   Argentina Durban, South Africa Kings Park Stadium 2022 Rugby Championship 24 September 2022 Won 38–21
1   France Marseille, France Stade Vélodrome 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals 12 November 2022 Lost 26–30
2   New Zealand London, England Twickenham Stadium 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches 25 August 2023 Won 7–35
1   Australia Brisbane, Australia Lang Park 2024 Rugby Championship 10 August 2024 Won 7–33

Super Rugby statistics

As of 9 June 2020
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Points    
2012 Stormers 16 15 1 1,165 1 5 0 0
2013 Stormers 13 13 0 956 2 10 0 0
2014 Stormers 15 9 6 733 1 5 0 0
2015 Stormers 16 12 4 885 1 5 0 0
2016 Stormers 16 11 5 801 2 10 1 0
2017 Stormers 13 13 0 1,009 6 30 0 0
2018 Stormers 15 14 1 1,042 2 10 0 0
2019 Stormers 11 10 1 765 4 20 1 0
2020 Stormers 1 1 0 26 0 0 0 0
Total 116 98 18 7,382 19 95 2 0

Bibliography

  • Jeremy Daniel, Siya Kolisi: Against All Odds, Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2018, ISBN 978-1868428649
  • Siya Kolisi, Rise: The Brand New Autobiography, HarperCollins, 2021, ISBN 978-0008431334[47]

References

  1. ^ a b rugbybworldcup.com. "Siya Kolisi (South-africa)". www.rugbyworldcup.com. rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  2. ^ Mjikeliso, Sibusiso. "Siya Kolisi reveals Dan Carter's influence in decision to join Racing 92". News24 Sport. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Siya Kolisi WP Rugby Player Profile". WP Rugby. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Siya Kolisi Stormers Player Profile". Stormers. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b "SIYA KOLISI IS OFFICIALLY A SHARK". The Sharks. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "SA Rugby Player Profile – Siya Kolisi". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Siya Kolisi itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Jones, Chris (9 June 2018). "South Africa v England: Siya Kolisi - the Springboks captain uniting a country". BBC Sport/BBC Radio 5 Live. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Rugby World Cup final: Siya Kolisi, South Africa's first black captain & legacy of 1995". BBC Sport. 30 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b Shine, Ossian (2 November 2019). "A Rainbow Nation turns golden as Siya Kolisi lifts the World Cup". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  11. ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (28 April 2023). "OFF FIELD RECOGNITION: Injured Kolisi honoured with National Order of Ikhamanga". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Siya Kolisi, Desiree Ellis, Tracy Chapman among 32 bestowed national orders by Ramaphosa". News24. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ^ Ray, Craig (6 June 2018). "Siya Kolisi: 'We represent something much bigger than we can imagine'". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Kolisi's living the dream". SA Rugby Mag. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  15. ^ "Kolisi – a Green & Gold, father & son reunion". Supersport. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Siya Kolisi True Story" (PDF).
  17. ^ "WP's Kolisi out for the season". Sport 24. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  18. ^ Lewis, Carl. "Siya Kolisi to captain Stormers". Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Siya Kolisi: South Africa name first black Test captain for England series". BBC Sport. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  20. ^ Mjikeliso, Sibusiso. "SuperSport CEO on Sharks stake sale to MVM, Siya Kolisi mega move". Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Springbok World Cup-winning skipper Kolisi signs for Racing 92". France 24. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  22. ^ "South Africa captain Siya Kolisi rejoins Sharks from Racing 92". BBC Sport. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Siya Kolisi IRB JWC Player Profile". IRB. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  24. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 30–17 Scotland". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  25. ^ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Siya Kolisi - Test matches". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Happy Birthday Siya Kolisi! 13 facts about the Springboks' skipper". Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  27. ^ "South Africa captain Siya Kolisi: 'we can achieve anything if we work together' – video". The Guardian. 2 November 2019. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  28. ^ Pye, John (31 October 2019). "Springboks' 1st black captain gets his chance at history". ABC News. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Siya Kolisi leaves press conference in awe with three-minute speech after difficult question –". Wales Online. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  30. ^ Shine, Ossian (29 October 2023). "Siya Kolisi's South Africa understand the ties between team and people". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  31. ^ Bull, Andy (29 October 2023). "Siya Kolisi's South Africa understand the ties between team and people". Independent. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Rachel and Siya Kolisi welcome baby girl". citizen.co.za. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  33. ^ Huisman, Biénne (22 May 2016). "Rugby, kids and romance for Siya Kolisi". City Press. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  34. ^ McKay, Joel (1 March 2023). "Tatjana Schoenmaker Confirms relationship with Rachel Kolisi's brother Joel Smith", News24 Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  35. ^ "SEE: Tatjana Schoenmaker and Joel Smith tie the knot in Robertson". www.womanandhomemagazine.co.za. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  36. ^ Maako, Keitumetse. "SEE | Mr & Mrs Smith: Olympic gold medalist Tatjana Schoenmaker marries the man of her dreams". Life. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  37. ^ Mercer, Kevin (20 September 2019). "South African captain Siya Kolisi trusts in God as 2019 Rugby World Cup begins". Sports Spectrum.
  38. ^ "Rugby World Cup winner Siya Kolisi reveals Reds inspiration on Anfield visit". Liverpool FC. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  39. ^ Tshwaku, Khanyiso. "Grey PE greenlights plans to name main rugby field after acclaimed alumnus Siya Kolisi". Sport. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Hallowed turf renamed after Kolisi". SA Rugby magazine. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  41. ^ Sibiya, Noxolo (22 October 2024). "Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and wife Rachel announce divorce". News24. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  42. ^ "Siya and Rachel Kolisi to divorce". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  43. ^ Macfarlane, Christina (28 April 2020). "'There is nothing worse than hunger,' says South Africa hero Siya Kolisi of helping townships during lockdown". CNN. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  44. ^ "Siya Kolisi and Faf du Plessis donate food parcels amid COVID-19 pandemic". India TV News. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  45. ^ Nations, United. "Siya Kolisi". United Nations. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Who we are | Spotlight Initiative". spotlightinitiative.org. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  47. ^ Sunday Times Siya Kolisi: ‘Through my own rise, I hope I can show people anything is possible’[1]
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siya Kolisi.
Rugby Union Captain
Preceded by South Africa captain
2018– 		Incumbent
Preceded by Rugby World Cup
winning captain
2019, 2023 		Incumbent
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