Siya
Kolisi
South Africa
·
Rugby
Date of birth | June 16, 1991 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Port Elizabeth |
Age | 35 |
Nationality | South Africa |
Career start | 2012 |
Discipline | Rugby (League/Union) |
Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi is at the forefront of South African rugby. The loose forward is the two-time World Cup-winning South African national team captain and also plays for the Stormers Super Rugby franchise.
Emerging as a bright young talent
Having represented his country in age-group World Cups, the man they call ‘The Bear’ burst onto the top-tier rugby scene in 2012 at just 20 years old, when he made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers.
A dynamic player with a rare blend of speed and power, he's impressed many with a series of electric performances. He got injured late in that first season but bounced back in 2013, when, at the tender age of 21, he made his Springbok debut vs Scotland. He came off the bench early in the match and managed to put in a man-of-the-match performance. A sign of things to come.
Leading the Springboks to glory
Siya continued to turn in consistently outstanding performances on the field and backed this up with growing leadership skills and professionalism. He was ultimately rewarded with the Stormers captaincy in 2017 and, in 2018, was named Springbok captain number 61; making history as the first black rugby captain in the 127-year history of South African test rugby.
In 2019, he became the third South African captain to lift rugby union's ultimate prize, the Rugby World Cup, driving his team to a spectacular 32-12 victory over a much-fancied England side in Yokohama, Japan. It was an iconic moment for the man who rose to international stardom from humble beginnings in an Eastern Cape township.
Four years later, in the autumn of 2023, he led his Springboks to victory in the World Cup final once again, this time defeating New Zealand in a nail-biting match to secure back-to-back titles.
An emotional return to the Stormers
Aside from a hugely successful international career, Siya has excelled at club level. He enjoyed a memorable 10-year stint with the Stormers, as well as two spells at the Sharks. He also spent one season abroad, playing for Racing 92 in the French Top 14.
In the summer of 2026, Siya confirmed that he would make an emotional return to the Stromers. “I have such incredible memories of my time at the Stormers, the way I was embraced by the fans in my formative years has never left me," he said. "I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can to the future success and happiness of this special club and its incredible supporters."
Helping the less fortunate
Off the field, Siya is a family man. He and wife Rachel have two children and also care for his own younger siblings, whom they legally adopted. Siya is passionate about helping and creating opportunities for the less fortunate and, as a globally-known face, recognises he has a platform to utilise his influence to help change the world for the better.