Siya Kolisi becomes South Africa's first black Test captain in 2018 when he led the team against England at Ellis Park. (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)
Siya Kolisi on Test debut against Scotland at Mbombela Stadium on 15 June, 2013 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo: Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images) Siya Kolisi of South Africa attacks against Scotland on debut. Kolisi was man-of-the-match. (Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images) Siya Kolisi came off the bench at RWC 2015 in the Boks' opening match against Japan in Brighton. The Boks lost 34-32 in one of the greatest upsets in rugby history. (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images) After 13 Test appearances from the bench, Kolisi made his first Test start against Ireland at Newlands on 11 June, 2016. (Photo: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images) Kolisi on the charge against Ireland at Newlands in 2016. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images) Kolisi played one of his best Tests against France at Kings Park, scoring a try as the Boks won 37-15 on 17 June, 2017. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images) Kolisi scored from an intercept against Les Bleus in 2017. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Teammates such as Franco Mostert (left), Eben Etzebeth (behind him) and Malcolm Marx (No 2) were part of two RWC-winning campaigns with Kolisi. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Kolisi made history on 9 June, 2018 when he became the Springboks' first black Test captain when he led the team against England at Ellis Park. The Boks won 42-39. (Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA /AFP) Kolisi tackles All Black centre Ryan Crotty during The Rugby Championship clash at Westpac Stadium on 15 September, 2018 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images) Kolisi led the Boks to a famous 36-34 win in Wellington, only a year after the Boks had lost 57-0 against the All Blacks in Albany. (Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images) Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup after the final of Rugby World Cup 2019 at International Stadium Yokohama on 2 November, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images) President Cyril Ramaphosa shares a moment with Kolisi and the team after they beat England 32-12 to win RWC 2019. (Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) Siya Kolisi and the team celebrate winning the 2021 series against the touring British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on 7 August, 2021. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Kolisi turns in celebration as referee Mathieu Raynal blows for a late penalty during the third Test against British & Irish Lions. Morne Steyn slotted the kick to win the series. (Photo: MB Media/Getty Images) Kolisi scores a try against France at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on 12 November, 2022. (Photo: Clement Mahoudeau/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis trophy after the team beat the All Blacks 12-11 to win RWC 2023 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on 28 October, 2023. (Photo: EPA/YOAN VALAT) More silverware as Kolisi hoists the Freedom Cup after an 18-12 win over the All Blacks in Cape Town on 7 September, 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images) Siya Kolisi of South Africa lifts and celebrates with the The Rugby Championship trophy after beating Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham in London on 4 October, 2025 (Photo: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images) Kolisi dives over for a try against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on 16 August, 2025. (Photo: Anton de Villiers / SASPA)
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1056637.jpg "Siya Kolisi on Test debut against Scotland at Mbombela Stadium on 15 June, 2013 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo: Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1056704.jpg "Siya Kolisi of South Africa attacks against Scotland on debut. Kolisi was man-of-the-match. (Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/489133268.jpg "Siya Kolisi came off the bench at RWC 2015 in the Boks' opening match against Japan in Brighton. The Boks lost 34-32 in one of the greatest upsets in rugby history. (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1279292.jpg "After 13 Test appearances from the bench, Kolisi made his first Test start against Ireland at Newlands on 11 June, 2016. (Photo: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1279102.jpg "Kolisi on the charge against Ireland at Newlands in 2016. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1365001.jpg "Kolisi played one of his best Tests against France at Kings Park, scoring a try as the Boks won 37-15 on 17 June, 2017. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/696951182.jpg "Kolisi scored from an intercept against Les Bleus in 2017. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/696950296.jpg "Teammates such as Franco Mostert (left), Eben Etzebeth (behind him) and Malcolm Marx (No 2) were part of two RWC-winning campaigns with Kolisi. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AFP__20180609__15R5UZ__v8__HighRes__RugbyuRsaEng.jpg "Kolisi made history on 9 June, 2018 when he became the Springboks' first black Test captain when he led the team against England at Ellis Park. The Boks won 42-39. (Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA /AFP)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-1033449360.jpg "Kolisi tackles All Black centre Ryan Crotty during The Rugby Championship clash at Westpac Stadium on 15 September, 2018 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1033529704.jpg "Kolisi led the Boks to a famous 36-34 win in Wellington, only a year after the Boks had lost 57-0 against the All Blacks in Albany. (Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_1622985.jpg "Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup after the final of Rugby World Cup 2019 at International Stadium Yokohama on 2 November, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1179428060.jpg "President Cyril Ramaphosa shares a moment with Kolisi and the team after they beat England 32-12 to win RWC 2019. (Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1332909411-1.jpg "Siya Kolisi and the team celebrate winning the 2021 series against the touring British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on 7 August, 2021. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1333215553.jpg "Kolisi turns in celebration as referee Mathieu Raynal blows for a late penalty during the third Test against British & Irish Lions. Morne Steyn slotted the kick to win the series. (Photo: MB Media/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/1244723979.jpg "Kolisi scores a try against France at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on 12 November, 2022. (Photo: Clement Mahoudeau/Gallo Images/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/11806686.jpg "Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis trophy after the team beat the All Blacks 12-11 to win RWC 2023 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on 28 October, 2023. (Photo: EPA/YOAN VALAT)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/TL_2257771.jpg "More silverware as Kolisi hoists the Freedom Cup after an 18-12 win over the All Blacks in Cape Town on 7 September, 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2238791624.jpg "Siya Kolisi of South Africa lifts and celebrates with the The Rugby Championship trophy after beating Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham in London on 4 October, 2025 (Photo: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Siya-Kolisi-try.jpg "Kolisi dives over for a try against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on 16 August, 2025. (Photo: Anton de Villiers / SASPA)")
Siya Kolisi becomes South Africa's first black Test captain in 2018 when he led the team against England at Ellis Park. (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)