South African Rugby Icon Siya Kolisi Shifts Focus After Back-to-Back World Cup Triumphs
Siya Kolisi, the South African rugby union star, has admitted that his focus has shifted after leading the Springboks to consecutive Rugby World Cup victories. The 32-year-old back-rower is now expected to lose the captaincy, as head coach Rassie Erasmus has expressed a preference for a more “locally-based” leader.
Kolisi, who recently joined Racing 92 on a three-year contract, had spent his entire career playing in South Africa for the Stormers and Sharks. However, his decision to pursue an overseas opportunity has now worked against him in the captaincy debate, according to Erasmus.
“Right now, the focus is on making that group and making sure we do well in the Tests we play,” he told supersport.com.
Despite the potential loss of the captaincy, Kolisi remains determined to represent the Springboks during the next four-year cycle and is even eyeing the 2027 World Cup, though he acknowledges that it is not a guarantee.
With the experienced Springboks players facing a challenge to maintain their national squad spots, Kolisi has thrown down the gauntlet to the younger generation.
“If we don’t play better than them, then we will have to think about passing on the jersey,” he said. “But saying that, we are definitely not going to give it up, we won’t give up the jersey easy, they will have to take it.”
Regardless of the captaincy change, Kolisi’s ambition remains to continue donning the iconic green and gold jersey of the Springboks.
“As long as I still have the opportunity to put on that green and gold jersey, that is all that matters,” he said.
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