Siya Kolisi Net Worth, News, Bio, Age, Wife, Career

Siya Kolisi Bio, Wiki

Siya Kolisi, whose full name is Siyamthanda Kolisi OIG, is a South African professional rugby union player. He currently serves as the captain for both the South Africa national rugby team and the Cell C Sharks.

In the Currie Cup, he represents the Sharks as a versatile player, primarily occupying the positions of flanker and loose forward.

In 2018, Kolisi made history by being appointed as the captain of the Springboks, marking him as the first black man to hold this prestigious position. Under his leadership, the South African Rugby team achieved a remarkable victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England.

Recognizing his significant impact, Kolisi was honored in December 2019 when he was included in New African magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Most Influential Africans. Furthermore, in April 2023, the South African Government bestowed upon him the National Order of Ikhamanga in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport of rugby.

Siya Kolisi Age

Kolisi was born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa, on June 16, 1991. As of 2023, he is 32 years old.

Siya Kolisi Height

Kolisi’s height is 6 feet 2 inches, which is equivalent to 188 centimeters.

Siya Kolisi Family

Kolisi grew up in Zwide, a township in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Siya Kolisi’s mother, Phakama, was only 16 years old when Siya was born, and his father, Fezakele, was in his final year of school at the time. Tragically, Siya’s mother passed away when he was 15 years old, and he was raised by his late grandmother, Nolulamile.

Since 2014, Siya has welcomed his half-siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, into the Kolisi household. These two children are from Siya’s mother, who had passed away in 2009. Prior to joining Siya’s family, Liyema and Liphelo spent five years in orphanages and foster care in Port Elizabeth.

Siya Kolisi Wife

In 2016, Kolisi tied the knot with Rachel Kolisi, and by 2022, they welcomed two children into their family: a son named Nicholas Siyamthanda (born in 2015) and a daughter named Keziah (born in 2017). Rachel, who is one year older than Siya, hails from Grahamstown and previously had a career in event management before transitioning to a full-time role as a mother.

Siya Kolisi Education

When Kolisi was just 12 years old, he left a lasting impression on scouts during a youth tournament in Mossel Bay. This remarkable performance led to him being offered a scholarship at Grey Junior in Port Elizabeth. Subsequently, he received a rugby scholarship to Grey High School, an institution that notable figures like South African cricketer Graeme Pollock and England International Mike Catt had attended.

Throughout his time at Grey High School, Kolisi was a valuable member of the first XV rugby team. He also ventured into the Eastern Province Kings youth program from 2007 to 2009, participating in the Under-16 Grant Khomo week and the Under-18 Craven Week, before making the move westward to join Western Province. Notably, he represented the South African national under-18 rugby union team (SA Schools team) for two consecutive years.

Siya Kolisi Career

Club

In 2011, Kolisi began his senior rugby career with Western Province, debuting against the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup. Due to injuries and international commitments, he secured regular starts in the Currie Cup, tallying 13 appearances and 4 tries, including a crucial one against rivals, the Blue Bulls.

In 2012, he advanced to the Stormers squad, making 16 appearances and scoring one try. However, a thumb injury limited his 2012 Currie Cup participation to just one game as Western Province clinched their 33rd title.

Kolisi bounced back in 2013, maintaining his spot in the Stormers despite strong competition. He notched 13 appearances, 2 tries, and earned his first international recognition during the 2013 Rugby Championship. He only featured in Western Province’s final three matches of the 2013 Currie Cup due to national duties, and they lost in the final to the Sharks.

In 2017, he was appointed as the Stormers’ captain and in 2018, he made history by becoming the first black captain of the Springboks in their 126-year history, a move celebrated by former Springbok Bryan Habana. Kolisi also served on the board of directors for MyPlayers Rugby, representing professional rugby players in South Africa.

In February 2021, Kolisi joined the Sharks following a majority share purchase of the team by MVM Holdings.

International

Kolisi was part of South Africa’s under-20 rugby team in both the 2010 and 2011 IRB Junior World Championships. He made his national team debut, Springbok 851, on June 15, 2013, against Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Kolisi came on as a replacement for the injured Arno Botha in the 5th minute and earned the Man of the Match award as South Africa triumphed 30-17. Throughout the 2013 international season, he made nine more substitute appearances, solidifying his place in the national squad. Kolisi also played two matches for South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Japan and Samoa.

On June 9, 2018, Kolisi made history by becoming the first black player to captain the Springboks in a Test match, leading the team against England at Ellis Park. He continued to captain South Africa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama, Japan, where they defeated England 32-12 in the final to win the Webb Ellis Cup. This victory marked South Africa’s third World Cup win, putting them on par with New Zealand, and Siya Kolisi became the first black captain to lead a World Cup-winning side.

Philanthropy

In 2020, Kolisi and his wife established The Kolisi Foundation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. The foundation’s mission is to combat inequality in the country by focusing on key areas such as Gender-Based Violence, Food Insecurity, Education, and Sport. They give special consideration to Zwide township, Kolisi’s hometown, and other underserved regions in South Africa. During the pandemic, Kolisi, along with his friend and cricketer Faf du Plessis, provided food donations to support the Bonteheuwel community street feeding scheme.