“He Forgot He’s a Celeb”: SA Gushes Over Siya Kolisi and Bathobele Hlekani’s Down-to-Earth Moments

• South Africa's Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, feasted on a traditional meal with rising Junior Bok star Bathobele Hlekani
• The hungry gentlemen, both of whom hail from Zwide in the Eastern Cape, had four plates of food on their table
• Rugby fans appreciated Siya for taking the 20-year-old under his wing and sharing a hearty dish

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi seems to be paving the way for future national rugby players, one plate of food at a time! The two-time Rugby World Cup champ shared how he bonded over a meal and fashion trip with Junior Springbok Bathobele Hlekani.

Bathobele has recently moved from the Sharks to the Lions and is widely regarded as a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. He was also a part of the Junior Boks team that made history by defeating the Baby All Blacks in Italy, winning the Under-20 World Cup.

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On 7 August 2025, Siya took to his TikTok account to upload a video showing them sitting at a table with four plates of food, which included cow's hooves, chakalaka, steamed bread, and more.

The rugby star proudly captioned his post:

"Amajita aseZwide (The guys of Zwide)."

Siya did not share their location, but he was recently in the Western Cape. He was seen in the town of Beaufort West watching a rugby match between two schools.

While they bonded over food, Siya and the 20-year-old rising Bok star also went on a shopping trip, adding Adidas apparel to their closets.

SA loves the Boks bonding

Hundreds of South African social media users headed towards the comment section, in awe of Siya's humble heart. Some also questioned whether each man was having two plates of food. Well, a Springbok must be fed to stay on top of their game!

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@lloydz_92_5 loved what they saw on their For You Page, writing:

"Bathobele Hlekani. I'm so happy for this boy."

@unkanyeziii said to the online community:

"This must be insane to fathom for Hlekani! Just casually having lunch with Kolisi, a Rugby World Cup winner and the first Black captain to do it. This is a huge co-sign."

@asandamafuya96 wrote in the comment section:

"Hey, Siya, so much food for the two of you. Hayini, Siya. Thank you, Siya, my captain, for visiting my hometown, Beaufort West. Thank you, mfethu."

After seeing what all was on the table, @blaq_garments humorously noted about rugby players:

"Now I get why you guys are so strong."

An amused @fishn.chips6 stated with a laugh:

"Clearly, he forgot he's a celebrity. We must remind him. Mr Kolisi, we appreciate you, Sir."

@lulutholulonyimba gave their opinion about the two guys bonding and shared:

"Siya is helping him to be the next captain. You guys are eating well."

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Take a look at the TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about Siya Kolisi

• In another article, Briefly News reported that Siya was spotted sitting alone at an interschool event in the Western Cape, which surprised fans.
• Nigerian scammers deepfaked Siya's image to promote a bogus investment scheme. While it appeared visually convincing, it exposed a Nigerian accent, leaving South Africans in stitches.
• The father of two shared touching photos of a dinner date with his eight-year-old daughter, Keziah. Supporters celebrated Siya both as a great rugby player and devoted dad.

Source: Briefly News