Siya Kolisi

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 years old, leaving his late grandmother (Nolulamile), to raise him. 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 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. He further represented the South Africa national under-18 rugby union team (SA Schools team) for two consecutive years.

Club career Kolisi made his senior debut for Western Province against the 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 union competition. He made 13 appearances and scored 4 tries during the campaign including a crucial score against bitter rivals the .

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 in the final of the competition. 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. 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."

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

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.

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.

Kolisi made his national team debut as Springbok 851 on 15 June 2013 against 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. Nine further substitute appearances followed during the 2013 international season as he firmly established himself as a regular member of the national squad. 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.

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. 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.

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 lockdowns, 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, who seemed unfazed 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 didn't 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 All Blacks 12–11 in the final to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. Kolisi credited the outcome to the team and coaches. This team had the opportunity to match the New Zealand team of 2011 and 2015 by winning back-to-back World Cups. With that win, South Africa matched the back-to-back record win that had been set by the New Zealand teams of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. South Africa became the first nation to win a fourth Rugby World Cup. In 2023, Siya Kolisi became the first South Africa captain to lift the Webb Ellis trophy twice. He and Richie McCaw of New Zealand are the only two winning captains of all time to lead their nations in consecutive Rugby World Cup campaigns.

In November 2025, he earned his 100th cap in a 32–17 victory against France in the 2025 Autumn Nations Series.

Personal life Kolisi married Rachel Smith in 2016 and they have two children together: son Nicholas Siyamthanda (born 2014) and daughter Keziah (born 2017).

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

Kolisi is a Christian and a fan of English football club Liverpool F.C. As a result, he has built a close personal friendship with former Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp.

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.

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

Philanthropy

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.

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.

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

Honours

International 2023 Qatar Airways Cup: Winning Captain: 2023 Prince William Cup: Winner (1): 2013 Winning Captain: 2021 Winning Captain: 2022 Winning Captain: 2023 Winning Captain: 2024 Mandela Challenge Plate: Winner: 2013 Winning Captain: 2024 Winning Captain: 2025 Freedom Cup: Winning Captain: 2024 Winning Captain: 2025 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa: Winning Captain: 2021 The Rugby Championship: Winning Captain: 2019 Winning Captain: 2024 Winning Captain: 2025 World Cup: Bronze Medalist: 2015 Winning Captain: 2019 Winning Captain: 2023

Statistics Test Match Record

Against P W D L Tri Pts %Won 16 14 0 2 5 25 12 5 2 5 2 10 3 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 9 6 0 3 0 0 9 8 0 1 2 10 2 2 0 0 0 0 9 4 0 5 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 4 3 0 1 1 5 1 1 0 0 1 5 18 9 0 9 3 15 2 2 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 8 0 2 1 5 Total 105 74 2 29 15 75 Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

International Tries

Super Rugby statistics

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