There is no doubt that Siya Kolisi will go down as one of the greatest Springbok captains to ever don the green and gold.
Since the day he first represented the national rugby team as the first ever black captain during the Springboks’ first game under the Rassie Erasmus era on 9th June 2018, the South African rugby landscape has never been the same again.
During the past seven years of his leadership, Siya and the team has seen great success in the form of 2x Rugby World Cups (2019 and 2013), a British and Irish Lions series win during the Covid-19 pandemic (2021), 2x Rugby Championship trophies, Freedom Cup, Nelson Mandela Plate, Qatar Airways Cup, as well as a Prince William Plate.
However, with time ticking, there are concerns about whether Siya, who has been so instrumental in the team’s success, will be good enough to lead the country to a record-breaking third World Cup since he will be 36 come the next tournament in 2027.
Someone who knows Siya all too well is former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who has played alongside him at both Western Province, Stormers, as well as the Springboks.
While Jean himself cannot certainly predict whether we will see Siya at the tournament, he does believe that if it happens, it will be a truly remarkable occasion.
In an exclusive interview with sports publication SportsBoom, the Bok centurion shared his thoughts.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have seen Siya grow from the 18-year-old arriving at Western Province, making his debut for the Stormers, making his debut for the Springboks, and evolving into this unbelievable human being that has also given back so much.”
Regarding Siya’s longevity, he added, “Obviously, we can’t look into the future, but yeah, Siya plays such a big part, not just on the field but off the field as well.”
“He is so inspirational in what he has done. His life story is an exceptional one. And yeah, it will be a remarkable story if he can go to a third World Cup and lead the team. And if the team can win it as well, it will be exceptional”.
Similarly, Rassie Erasmus recently touched on the matter from the South African Rugby Union (SARU) headquarters in Plattekloof.
Watch:
If successful, the man from Zwide in the Eastern Cape will be the first ever captain to win three Rugby World Cups.
Meanwhile, Jean adds that he has full faith that current Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will make the right decision.
“When you speak about Siya, when you speak about the Springboks, and the successes that they’ve had, Rassie is right at the top of that.”
“He just goes about his business. I think he’s an absolute genius when it comes to rugby, and just constantly trying to get better.”
The Springboks have recently assembled in Cape Town, where they started preparations for the 2025 international season, with several new faces now part of Rassie’s long-term plans.
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Also see: Bok captain and coach Rassie revisit NWU for the unveiling of Siya Kolisi residence
