Springboks skipper and icon Siya Kolisi endured a rollercoaster year but don’t forget the huge highs he experienced individually and collectively.
Siya Kolisi earns TIME Magazine recognition after making Springboks history
Siyamthanda Kolisi etched his name into the record books in 2023 when he became only the second man to captain his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs.
This is what he said in an Instagram caption to address this honour:
“Being named to the 2024 #TIME100 list is an incredible honour, one that deeply humbles me. It’s a profound responsibility to stand alongside individuals who dedicate their lives to enriching others. This recognition isn’t just for me; it reflects the numerous individuals and communities who have poured into me and shaped me to be the person I am and am becoming. I’m grateful to @time for highlighting the importance of compassion and service in our world. I look forward to getting my hands on the TIME100 issue when it’s released on Friday.”
Kolisi, a picture of humility
There is an obvious steeliness and grit evident in Siya Kolisi’s approach to rugby matches. However, the most telling side to his personality is a gentle humility that is always on show at the end of bruising contests. His first action is to always speak about his opponent in glowing terms, an obvious indicator of his humility, leadership and willingness to take disappointment on the chin.
Springboks mainstay
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Kolisi since his Bok debut in June 2013, the day before his 22nd birthday. He has faced criticism over his form, as all players do, and he’s lost his place in the side at various junctures. One constant, however, has been Kolisi’s parallel obsession with self-improvement and putting the team first. The legendary loose forward has won 92 caps for South Africa, 60 of those as captain. It’s difficult to imagine the Springboks before Siyamthanda Kolisi, and it will be pretty strange adjusting to life without him when he eventually retires.
