Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s salary makes him one of the highest-paid players in SA Rugby.

However, he is not the highest-paid Bok.

HIGHEST-PAID SPRINGBOK REVEALED

Cheslin Kolbe takes home a whopping R22 million annually, as reportedon The South African.

So, this equates to R1.83 million a month for Japanese-based outfit, Tokyo Sungoliath.

Therefore, Kolbe is the highest-paid Springboks player. Placing him above the likes of some of the sports highest-paid players such as Kolisi, Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard.

Kolbe is certainly worth every cent. The elusive, dynamic speedster is one of, if not, the most well rounded rugby players on the planet. Furthermore, he is the ultimate x-factor player, a game-breaker capable of producing magic out of nowhere – at will.

The Springboks speedster is as good at finishing as he is beating defenders with that lethal side step of his. Moreover, he is as solid under the high ball as he is at kicking. Finally, his speed and skill is matched by his sheer passion.

RUGBY’S MOST VERSATILE PLAYER

In the last year we have seen just how versatile he is.

Rassie Erasmus utilized him at scrumhalf for a backline move after being named at wing and he even threw into the line-out. Adding to his list of accolades and unique achievements, the right winger struck a 50m drop goal playing at flyhalf for Toulon last season as well.

Thereafter, under Rassie he was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year alongside boo teammates Eben Etzebeth, Irish loose forward Caelin Doris and eventual winner, Pieter-Steph du Toit

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Sir Steve Hansen claims All Blacks were ‘robbed’ of 2023 World Cup win as former head coach provides verdict on Scott Robertson’s side

Hansen did not list specific incidents but the 65-year-old has previously been critical of the red card handed out to captain Sam Cane in the first half.

Baton passed on

Despite the All Blacks’ struggles between 2020 and 2023, they came so close to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and Hansen felt that they were in a good position as the baton handed over to Robertson.

Particularly in the front-row, the new head coach has had a strong platform to work from according to Hansen.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve made great strides [up front], I still think we’re going as well as we were. This is a team that should have won the World Cup, they were robbed of the World Cup as far as I’m concerned with some poor decisions that were out of their control which cost them a World Cup,” he told DSPN with Martin Devlin.

“They’re a very, very competitive side, they’ve got some very good rugby players. In the front-row and the prop stocks they’ve got at the moment, I’d have them in 2019; they’re good, young men and playing really well.

“There are a couple of new boys that have arrived on the scene and they look promising players, so there’s plenty of depth in that team.”

Hansen has previously stated that he felt Foster was treated abysmally by New Zealand Rugby, with Robertson’s appointment confirmed well ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Thanks to the All Blacks’ performance at the global tournament, he went some way to proving a lot of people wrong, who wanted Robertson as their head coach in 2019.

All Blacks development

The Crusaders legend eventually got his chance four years later but it has been a mixed start as New Zealand ended the 2024 campaign with 10 victories and four defeats.

Hansen was asked about how they go about improving in 2025 and he responded: “I think it starts with the people running it, I think they’ve worked out this job wasn’t as easy as they thought it was going to be.

“They’ve had some good lessons, and they’ve openly said that which is great because they’re acknowledging they have to learn. As they learn, the team will learn.”