Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has decided to part ways with his beloved Western Province, the union that has seen him grow into one of South African rugby’s greatest success stories. Siya has decided to move further up the coast to join the Sharks, weeks after the Durban-based franchise announced a new majority shareholder in US Consortium MVM Holdings. There has been much speculation regarding Siya’s departure from his 11-year tenure at Western Province. Investors in MVM Holdings, Roc Nation Sports were said to have played a pivotal role in securing the services of the World Cup-winning captain. It’ll be interesting to see where Siya fits into the coastal-based outfits plans, with the Sharks sporting a number of quality in-form loose forwards. To complicate matters further, Kolisi’s springbok teammate Lukanyo Am has successfully donned the captain’s armband in Durban for the better part of the last twelve-months. There’s no doubt rugby enthusiasts alike will be watching attentively to see how Sharks coach Sean Everitt plays his cards following the high-profile signing. The article below was first published on SA Rugby. – Justin Rowe-Roberts
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Springbok captain Siya Kolisi lifted the lid on his future plans on Wednesday, when it was announced that he had signed a multi-year deal with the Cell C Sharks after spending 11 years in Cape Town with the DHL Stormers and Western Province.
The 29-year-old Kolisi has amassed 50 Test caps since his Bok debut in 2013, the last of which was the epic Rugby World Cup final against England in Japan, which South Africa won by 32-12.
Apart from his half-century of Test caps, Port Elizabeth-born Kolisi also played in 115 Vodacom Super Rugby matches for the DHL Stormers and represented the Junior Springboks in eight matches over two seasons in 2010 and ’11.
“I bought into the vision of the Sharks immediately – the energy around the club, the management set-up, the squad and the potential for success was so strong,” said Kolisi.
“I have always had a desire to be the best, and play with the best, to reach my potential on-and-off the field, and this move is just another step in maximising what I can achieve within my career.
“This is a very exciting new chapter for me and my loved ones, and one I am embracing fully. I arrive with a commitment to give this team everything I have, and I’m thankful to the Sharks for the opportunity. We can’t wait to see what Durban has to offer.”
Kolisi’s ongoing strong appetite to win trophies and better himself on the field, matched with the Sharks’ strategic vision and defined blueprint for success, drove the Bok captain’s motivation to expand his horizons within South African rugby, and embark on this exciting new chapter in Durban.
Commenting on his signing, The Sharks CEO Dr Eduard Coetzee said: “We are delighted to welcome Siya and his family to the Cell C Sharks. We pride ourselves on being a family unit who support and treat each other unbelievably well and a player of Siya’s pedigree is a welcomed addition to the team.
“He is a class act and undoubtedly a great ambassador for the game and is someone whom our young players will certainly draw inspiration from. We are confident that Siya will fit in seamlessly into our team environment and will thrive with the unique culture that we have in Durban.”
