Siya Kolisi

Siya Kolisi is the current captain of the Springboks and is the first black player to ever hold the position. As the captain of the South African national team, he’s won the Rugby World Cup and a series against the British and Irish Lions.

Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, Siya Kolisi’s talent as a rugby player shone through at a young age and he was offered a rugby scholarship at the prestigious Grey High School.

In 2011, Siya Kolisi made his debut for the Western Province in the Currie Cup. Later in the same year, he became an established starter. As a result, in 2012, he was called into the Stormers side for the first time.

Between 2011 and 2021, Siya Kolisi made 34 appearances for the Western Province and a staggering 118 appearances for the Stormers in Super Rugby. In 2017, he was even named as Stormers captain. However, in 2021, he ultimately left the Western Province and the Stormers and he signed for the Sharks in both the Currie Cup and the United Rugby Championship.

Although he’s enjoyed a highly distinguished domestic career, Siya Kolisi is undoubtedly best known for his career on the international stage. Since 2016, he’s made more than 60 appearances for the South African national side. In 2018, he was also named as the team’s first ever black captain.

Under his stewardship, the Springboks have been a dominant force on the world stage. He led his side to glory in the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and also guided the Springboks to victory over the touring British and Irish Lions in 2021.

With the world at his feet and his best rugby still to come, we can’t wait to see what else Siya Kolisi can achieve in the game.