Double Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi accepts that he may lose the Springboks captaincy in 2024.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus recently said that he believed that Kolisi was playing “some of his best rugby” but admitted that there could be a change of captaincy in 2024.
In 2018, it was Erasmus who handed the captaincy to Kolisi as he became the first black player to skipper the Springboks, and when fit, he has retained the armband, leading the side to two World Cup titles.
Siya Kolisi accepts that he may lose Springboks captaincy
However, after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Kolisi joined French Top 14 club Racing 92, which automatically put his future as captain of the side in doubt.
While the 32-year-old will still be eligible for selection for the Springboks, Erasmus recently said that he prefers to have his captain based locally.
“Siya is playing some of his best rugby, but I prefer to have my captain locally based as that allows for more interaction,” Erasmus said.
“This is a unique situation, and I think he (Kolisi) will play some Test matches; he certainly wants to, but we are not sure about the captaincy.”
Kolisi has since responded to Erasmus’ comments and said that he knew his leadership role would be in doubt when he signed for Racing 92.
“That’s normal. I knew that before making the decision to come here,” Kolisi told reporters ahead of Racing 92’s Investec Champions Cup knockout match against Toulouse.
“He (Erasmus) speaks and he says this is the situation, it is what it is, there’s nothing I can do about that.”
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Returning from injury
Kolisi has missed Racing’s last three Top 14 fixtures due to a thumb injury but is set to mark his return to action against Toulouse.
The flanker remarked, “I feel good; my hand is good.”
“I visited the doctor to see the specialist, and he expressed satisfaction with my hand’s recuperation.
“All I want is to be playing.” The doctors, management, and coaches told me to wait until this week when I tried to play last week.
Only John Smith (83) has led South Africa more times than Kolisi, who led the Springboks for 53 times in last year’s 2023 Rugby World Cup final victory over New Zealand.
Potential Kolisi successors in 2024 include Lukhanyo Am, Bongi Mbonambi, and Eben Etzebeth. Steven Kitshoff, who has been connected to a return to South Africa, may also be taken into consideration.
