Biography
Siya Kolisi (born 16 June 1991) is a 33-year-old South African professional rugby union player. He plays for the South African rugby union team and is the team captain.
Siya also plays club rugby for Western Province in the Currie Cup and “the Stormers” in Super Rugby.
South African rugby player
Siya Kolisi |
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 Siya Kolisi: History, Photos |
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| Wiki Data | |
| Birth name: | Siya Kolisi |
| Wife: | Rachel Smith |
| Born: | June 16, 1991 (age 33) |
| Place of birth: | Port Elizabeth |
| Nationality: | South Africa |
| Job: | Rugby player |
| Net worth: | $300,000 – $3,000,000 |
Early life
Siya Kolisi was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 16 June 1991. His mother Phakama gave birth to him when she was 17 years old. And his father Fezakele was in his final year of school.
Kolisi’s mother died when he was 15. He was raised by his grandmother Nolulamile.
Siya Kolisi grew up in the town of Zwide outside Port Elizabeth and had a difficult childhood.
Education
At a youth competition in Mossel Bay, at the age of 12, Kolisi caught the attention of scouts there and was offered a scholarship to Dim Junior in Port Elizabeth.
Shortly after, he received a football scholarship to the prestigious Dark High School.
Career
Kolisi was a standout member of the First XV rugby team.
He was one of the young players formed by Eastern Province Kings around 2007 and 2009.
He played in the Grant Khomo Week U16 and Craven Week U18 tournaments before moving west to join Western Province.
He also had a long speaking career with the South African U18 rugby union team.
Siya made his debut for Western Province in 2011. He made appearances and scored 4 goals that season.
In 2012, Siya moved to the Stormers. He made 1 trial appearance that season.
However, in the second half of 2012, he suffered a thumb injury that limited him to just one match in the 2012 Currie Cup.
In 2013, Siya appeared for the Stormers and scored 2 tries.
This achievement brought him his first worldwide recognition.
Siya Kolisi is an individual on the board of My Players Rugby. The organisation of all professional rugby bodies in South Africa.
On 20 February 2017, Siya Kolisi was named captain of the Stormers.
Furthermore, on 28 May 2018, he became the first ever shadow captain in the Springboks’ 126-year history.
Siya Kolisi is an individual from the South Africa U20 team that participated in the 2010 and 2011 IRB World Junior Championships.
He made his debut for the South African rugby union team on 15 June 2013 as Springbok 851.
He was named Man of the Match.
Siya Kolisi has established himself as an important individual in the team.
At the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he played in two matches.
Siya captained South Africa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama, Japan, and also led the team to victory over England in the final.
Personal life
Siya Kolisi married his girlfriend Rachel Smith in 2016. At the time of writing, the couple had two children.
One child (Nicholas Siyamthanda born in 2015) and one baby girl (Keziah born in 2017).
Siya’s half-relatives, Liyema and Liphelo, children of Siya’s late mother, became part of the Kolisi family after five years living in shelters and childcare centres in Port Elizabeth.
Generosity
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Siya Kolisi and his wife founded the Kolisi Foundation.
The facility provides personal protective equipment to health workers and delivers food parcels across South Africa, particularly in the city of Zwide where Kolisi grew up.
Net worth
Siya Kolisi’s successful career has earned her an estimated net worth of $300,000 to $3,000,000.
Social media
- Instagram: @siya_kolisi_the_bear
- Twitter: @SiyaKolisi_Bear
- Facebook: @ Siya Kolisi
