In a nation once defined by division, one man’s story stands as testament to the transformative power of sport and the unyielding human spirit.
The midday sun beats down on the dusty streets of Zwide township. Children kick makeshift balls on uneven patches of dirt, their laughter cutting through the ambient hum of daily life in this sprawling settlement on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. This is where greatness was born – though nobody knew it then.
It was here, amid the corrugated iron structures and narrow pathways, that a young Siyamthanda “Siya” Kolisi first touched a rugby ball. The year was 1998, and in this predominantly Black township, the seven-year-old could scarcely have imagined that he would one day not just play but captain a sport that for generations had symbolized white Afrikaner identity.
“Rugby was like breathing for me,” Siya Kolisi once reflected. “Even when I had nothing, I had rugby.”
Born Into Struggle: The Early Years in Zwide
Born on June 16, 1991 – a date that resonates in South African history as Youth Day, commemorating the Soweto uprisings – Siya Kolisi’s circumstances were humble to say the least. His teenage parents – mother Phakama, 16, and father Fezakele, 15 – were ill-equipped for parenthood, leaving his paternal grandmother Nolulamile to raise him in conditions of grinding poverty.
The township was a crucible of socio-economic disparity, with high unemployment, pervasive crime, and inadequate services forming the backdrop to Kolisi’s childhood. His father was frequently absent, searching for work wherever he could find it, while his mother faced her own battles with violence and hardship.
“There were days when we had nothing to eat,” Siya Kolisi recalls. “My grandmother would cook a pot of water with salt so that our stomachs would be full with something warm.”
When she passed away when Kolisi was just 12, the foundation of his young life crumbled. He briefly flirted with the negative influences that claim so many township youths – alcohol, marijuana, petrol sniffing – desperate attempts to fit in with older children and escape the harsh realities of his environment.
But rugby would be his salvation.
At Emsengeni Primary School, he found not just a sport but a purpose. By 2002, at age 11, he had joined the African Bombers Rugby Club, where coach Eric Songwiqi became the positive male role model Kolisi so desperately needed.
“Eric was more than a coach,” Kolisi says. “He showed me what it meant to be a man of integrity and purpose.”
A Sport and a Lifeline: Rugby as Escape
Imagine the scene: a youth tournament in Mossel Bay, and a 12-year-old boy from the township displaying such raw talent that scouts couldn’t help but notice. What followed would change the trajectory of Siya Kolisi’s life forever.
A scholarship to Grey Junior School in Port Elizabeth, followed by another to the prestigious Grey High School – an institution that has produced 28 Springboks over its storied history.
The culture shock was immediate and profound. Siya Kolisi, who spoke no English, found himself transplanted from a world of scarcity to one of abundance. The school’s manicured fields and state-of-the-art facilities might as well have been on another planet compared to the dusty patches of Zwide.
“I couldn’t speak the language. I didn’t understand the culture. I felt like an alien,” Kolisi has said of those early days at Grey.
But adaptability would become one of his defining characteristics. With the help of classmates like Nicholas Holton, who took it upon himself to teach Kolisi English, the township boy gradually found his footing in this new world.
On the rugby field, language barriers dissolved. His natural athleticism and fierce determination made him a standout, earning him a spot on the first XV team and selection for Eastern Province at various youth levels. By 2007, at just 16, he was captain of the Grey U16A team – an early glimpse of the leadership qualities that would one day make history.
Scouted Young: A Life-Changing Opportunity
The road from talented schoolboy to professional athlete is rarely smooth, and Kolisi’s journey was no exception. After cutting his teeth in the Eastern Province Kings youth setup from 2007 to 2009, he made the pivotal decision to move to Western Province in 2010, joining their academy.
Success came quickly. In his first year with Western Province, he helped the team secure the U19 ABSA Currie Cup, marking himself as a player to watch. By 2011, he had progressed to the senior Western Province Vodacom Cup team and earned selection for the Junior Springboks.
His senior debut for the Stormers in 2012 was the stuff of rugby fairy tales. Stepping in as an injury replacement for the legendary Schalk Burger, Kolisi scored a try on debut, announcing his arrival on the Super Rugby stage with emphatic flair.
The following year brought the call every South African rugby player dreams of – selection for the Springboks. On June 15, 2013, Siya Kolisi donned the green and gold against Scotland, coming on as an early replacement and delivering a performance so impressive he was named Man of the Match.
Springbok number 851 had arrived.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is it. This is everything I’ve worked for,'” Kolisi has said of that moment. “But also knowing it was just the beginning.”
Making History: South Africa’s First Black Springbok Captain
Fast forward to 2017, and Kolisi’s leadership qualities were increasingly evident. His appointment as captain of the Stormers in February marked his first major leadership role at the professional level.
But it was the announcement in May 2018 that truly reverberated through the rugby world and beyond. Siya Kolisi, the boy from Zwide township, would captain the Springboks – the first Black captain in the team’s 126-year history.
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. In a sport long associated with white minority rule, a Black man from an impoverished township would lead the national team. Former Springbok Bryan Habana described it as “a monumental moment for South African rugby, and a moment in South African history.”
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus later admitted he had been somewhat naive to the broader ramifications of appointing Kolisi, focusing initially on his performance as a Super Rugby captain rather than the powerful symbolism of his selection.
The appointment was celebrated by many as a sign of progress and transformation, while simultaneously drawing racist backlash from others – a stark reminder of the complex social landscape Siya Kolisi was navigating.
In his acceptance of the Nelson Mandela University Council Africa Award, Kolisi acknowledged the weight of responsibility he carried: “I know my appointment is bigger than just me being captain. It’s about what it means for people from my background, from similar townships who never thought this would be possible.”
2019 World Cup Glory: A United South Africa
If Kolisi felt the pressure of his historic appointment, it never showed on the field. His leadership style – defined by empathy, unity-building, and leading by example – resonated with his diverse team.
“I needed to understand where everyone comes from,” Siya Kolisi says of his approach to captaincy. “Everyone has a different story. As a leader, I need to know those stories to understand what motivates each player.”
Kolisi’s Leadership Philosophy: What SPRINGBOK Really Means
His leadership philosophy, which he has articulated through the acronym SPRINGBOK – Service, Passion, Respect, Integrity, Neighbors, Grateful, Belief, Opportunity, and Knowledgeable – became the foundation for what would follow.
And what followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
In 2019, Kolisi led the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup in Japan. The final against England on November 2 would prove to be one of the most significant moments in South African sporting history. The Springboks dominated from start to finish, securing a comprehensive 32-12 victory.
As Kolisi lifted the Webb Ellis Cup, he became the first Black captain to do so. The image of him holding the trophy aloft, his father – who had never owned a passport before traveling to Japan for the final – by his side, became instantly iconic.
“We have so many problems in our country,” Kolisi said in the emotional aftermath. “But to have a team like this, we come from different backgrounds, different races, and we came together with one goal. I really hope we’ve done that for South Africa, to show that we can pull together if we want to achieve something.”
The team’s return to South Africa sparked nationwide celebrations, with thousands lining the streets to welcome their heroes. For a nation still grappling with the legacy of apartheid, the sight of a united team led by a Black captain from a township represented something profound – a glimpse of what South Africa could be.
Beyond the Field
While Kolisi’s on-field achievements would be enough to secure his place in rugby history, his impact extends far beyond the white lines of the pitch.
In 2020, along with his wife Rachel, he co-founded the Kolisi Foundation, addressing issues including inequality, gender-based violence, food insecurity, and education access – with a particular focus on under-resourced communities like the one he grew up in.
“Winning World Cups is incredible, but it’s what we do off the field that will define our legacy,” Kolisi has said of his foundation work.
His commitment to social change has earned him recognition beyond the sporting world. In April 2024, he was honored by Time Magazine as one of their 100 most influential people, acknowledging his role in uniting South Africa through rugby and his impact on society more broadly.
Earlier this year, he even collaborated with tennis legend Roger Federer to promote early childhood education in South Africa, bringing together two global sporting icons for a cause close to both their hearts.
Yet for all his achievements and acclaim, Kolisi remains rooted in his faith and humble beginnings. In a candid interview with SportGoMag, he spoke openly about his Christian faith and how it has guided him through both triumphs and struggles.
“My faith gives me purpose beyond rugby,” he explained. “It helps me understand that I’m part of something bigger than myself.”
Legacy of Hope: Siya Kolisi as a Symbol for a Nation
If the 2019 World Cup victory was historic, what followed four years later was nothing short of legendary. In 2023, Kolisi once again led the Springboks to glory, becoming only the second captain after New Zealand’s Richie McCaw to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice.
The campaign in France tested the Springboks like never before, with nail-biting victories over France, England, and New Zealand. Through it all, Kolisi’s leadership remained steadfast, inspiring his team to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
The victory parade upon their return to South Africa drew crowds even larger than in 2019, with millions watching as the team traveled through multiple cities, trophy in hand.
In January 2025, Kolisi reflected on his journey in a deeply personal interview, describing himself as “hero, sinner, world-changer – an athlete like no other.” The candid self-assessment captured the complexity of a man who has become more than just a rugby player – a symbol of possibility in a nation still finding its way.
After a brief stint with French club Racing 92, Kolisi made the decision to return to South Africa in 2024, rejoining the Sharks and recommitting himself to his homeland. The move speaks to his deep connection to South Africa and his desire to continue making an impact where his journey began.
For Red Bull, which has featured Kolisi extensively, his story represents the perfect embodiment of their “giving wings” philosophy – a man who has soared beyond the limitations of his circumstances to reach unprecedented heights.
The Boy Who Became a Symbol
From the dusty streets of Zwide to the pinnacle of world rugby, Siya Kolisi’s journey reads like a script too far-fetched for Hollywood. Yet it’s all true – every improbable twist, every against-the-odds triumph.
In a sport and a country long divided along racial lines, his ascent to the captaincy of the Springboks and subsequent leadership of the team to consecutive World Cup victories represents something profound – a tangible symbol of what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.
“I want people to look at me and think, ‘If he can do it, so can I,'” Kolisi has said.
But his legacy is about more than sporting achievement. It’s about the way he has used his platform to address the very inequalities that made his own journey so remarkable. Through the Kolisi Foundation and his outspoken advocacy, he has committed himself to creating pathways for others facing similar challenges.
As South Africa continues its complex journey toward reconciliation and equality, Kolisi stands as a powerful reminder that transformation is possible – not just on the rugby field, but in society at large.
The boy from Zwide, who once played with makeshift balls on dusty township streets, now stands as a beacon of hope for a nation still finding its way forward. And in his story, we find not just inspiration but a blueprint for what South Africa could yet become.
“Rugby gave me a voice,” Kolisi says. “Now I want to use that voice to make sure others are heard too.”
In a nation once defined by division, Siya Kolisi’s voice rings out loud and clear – calling his team, his country, and his people toward a future where dreams are limited not by circumstance, but only by imagination.
If Siya Kolisi’s rise from Zwide inspires you, meet another trailblazer who broke barriers in a different arena. Simone Manuel made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics as the first African-American woman to win an individual gold medal in swimming. Like Kolisi, her story is one of resilience, representation, and rewriting what’s possible.
Photo: Por Stefano Delfrate – Autumn Nations Series ’22- Italia vs Sudafrica-752.jpg, CC BY-SA 2.0,
