SIYAMTHANDA KOLISI: BIO

Mind Set Win S2 E2: “You have to know why you’re doing something, and the ‘why’ has to be bigger than the doubt you have about yourself,” said Siya Kolisi.

FAMILY.

Kolisi was born and bred in Zwide, iBhayi, a township in Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape. Born to teenage parents, he was raised by his grandmother, Nolulamile.  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. He and his wife Rachel have two children and also care for his own younger siblings, whom they legally adopted.

“Grade 6 I played for my school, Ntyatyambo Primary against Emsengeni Primary where Coach Eric was a teacher. We lost badly, something like 50-0, but after the match Coach Eric came over and said he’d seen something special in me. I just laughed,” Siya wrote in his book, Rise.

CAREER

  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. 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 joining Western Province. He further represented the South Africa national under-18 rugby union team for two consecutive years.

Siya Kolisi, who made his Test debut against Scotland in Nelspruit in 2013, has featured in more than 60 matches for the Springboks. He was ultimately rewarded for his outstanding performances on the field with the Stormers captaincy in 2017 and, in 2018, was named Springbok captain. He made history as the first black African man to be appointed captain of the South African Springboks and led South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in Japan in 2019. In 2021, Kolisi also captained South Africa to another series victory over the British & Irish Lions, while he was named the Springbok Player of the Series.

The dynamic flanker was the only national player to feature in all 13 Tests in 2021, and went on to be named the SA Rugby Player of the Year. At franchise level, Kolisi enjoyed an illustrious career with Western Province Rugby, ultimately making 118 appearances for the Stormers in Super Rugby. In the same year, Siya left the Stormers to play in the United Rugby Championship for The Sharks of Durban.

Away from the pitch, Siya Kolisi’s life story has inspired many. His grandmother died in his arms when he was 12. In his early years, Kolisi engaged in substance misuse, violence, aggressiveness and self-destructive behavior to cope with challenges and form an identity to fit in to his society. Playing rugby, attending school, spirituality and faith also helped him cope.

 In 2020, Siya and Rachel Kolisi founded the Kolisi Foundation with a vision to change the stories of inequality in South Africa, to see thriving communities. Along with many of his peers, they provided relief for vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown, which is just one example of numerous outreach projects he is passionately involved in. Today Kolisi stands as, not only a Rugby World Cup champion, but a BBC ‘Sports Star of the Year’ nominee and one of New African’s ‘Most Influential Africans’ – achievements that demonstrate the impact of his journey outside of sport. Kolisi was also named in the Forbes Africa 2021 list of 100 most influential Africans.

In 2019 he became the third South African captain to lift rugby union’s ultimate prize, driving his team to a spectacular 32-12 victory over a much-fancied England side in Yokohama, Japan. In 2023, he Captained South Africa to a second World Cup title in succession. However, after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Kolisi joined French Top 14 club Racing 92. This has most likely made him lose his spot as a captain.

Erasmus said, “Siya is playing some of his best rugby, but I prefer to have my captain locally based as that allows for more interaction. This is a unique situation, and I think he (Kolisi) will play some Test matches; he certainly wants to, but we are not sure about the captaincy.” Kolisi has said that he knew his leadership role would be in doubt when he signed for Racing 92. However, a top source in SA Rugby told the newspaper that the union “cannot afford” to buy Kolisi out of his contract at Racing 92.