Springboks Captain Siya Kolisi Named Favourite Sports Star After Controversial Divorce Announcement

• Springboks captain, Siya Kolisi has been crowned sports fanatics' favourite sports star
• The famed athlete received recognition for his leadership and consistency around the field
• This comes after he announced the ending of his marriage, which many fans are still struggling to believe

Siya Kolisi's strides recently earned him the title of fans' favourite sports star.

Siya Kolisi hailed as favourite sports star

Springboks captain, Siya Kolisi, recently captured the hearts of the Port Elizabeth newspaper, PE Express readers, who recognised his accomplishments as a leader and sportsman.

The Zwide-born athlete rose to stardom and made history as the first black captain of the Springboks, and recently helped the team earn their second consecutive win at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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Not only that, but the work of the Siya Kolisi Foundation, co-founded by him and his now ex-wife, Rachel, has touched many hearts as it aims to tackle issues of food scarcity and GBV, among others.

It was for these reasons that PE Express readers proudly crowned him their favourite sports star.

Siya Kolisi breaks his silence

The news of his accomplishment comes at a time when Siya and his family are coming to terms with his divorce from Rachel.

The couple released a joint statement that turned the country upside down as fans begged them to fix things while others refused to believe it as fact.

Siya later broke his silence with his first post since the announcement, but it was not to address the separation.

Instead, the Boks captain spoke about his match with the Sharks against Munster and flatly ignored fans' pleas for clarity about his divorce:

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Siya Kolisi turns to God amid divorce from Rachel Kolisi: "Trust in the Lord"

"Thank you so much for all the support, @sharksrugby family, and the people of KZN. It's great to be back here. See you soon, @dbntourism!"

What you need to know about Siya Kolisi

Siya Kolisi was born on 16 June 1991 in the Zwide township of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. Growing up in humble circumstances, he once shared in an interview with Rugby World that his favourite toy as a child was a brick.

When he was born, his parents were teenagers, and his mother, Phakama, tragically passed away when Kolisi was just 15. After her death, he was raised by his grandmother, Nolulamile. Kolisi’s love for rugby began at seven, inspired by several family members who also played the sport. He joined the African Bombers junior team, where he played for five years before receiving a rugby scholarship to the prestigious Grey College.

In 2013, Siya Kolisi was brought into the full international squad after making eight appearances for the U20 side in 2010 and 2011. His debut came earlier than expected but was memorable. He entered as a substitute in the fifth minute of the match against Scotland on 15 June 2013 and was named man of the match in the 30-17 victory.

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Rachel Kolisi laments divorce from Siya Kolisi, SA applauds her plans amid marital split

Over the next twelve appearances, Kolisi continued to come off the bench, including during the shocking defeat to Japan at the 2015 World Cup. It wasn’t until June 2016, just before his 25th birthday, that he made his first run-on debut against Ireland.

Mzansi spots Siya Kolisi's lookalike

In more Siya Kolisi updates, Briefly News shared online reactions to a man who bore a striking resemblance to the Boks captain.

Netizens were in stitches after seeing side-by-side photos of Siya and his doppelgänger:

user6115876125542 said:

"Yoh, this country. Everything is a joke. Hayini ninani."

Source: Briefly News