50-401: Siyamthanda "Siya" Kolisi OIG , (born 16 June 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently captains the South Africa national team . Having formerly played for the Stormers and Racing 92 , he currently plays for Sharks in the URC . He generally plays as a flanker and a loose forward. In 2018, Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming
100-420: A drum, three circles, and two roadways. The head represents the arts, the sun represents glory, the circles symbolise sport, and the roads represent the long road to excellence. The South African coat of arms is displayed on the reverse. The ribbon is gold with four cream-coloured lines inset from each edge and a pattern of recurring stylised dancing figures down the centre. All three classes are worn around
150-471: A fan of English football club Liverpool F.C. His alma mater Grey High School renamed its first XV rugby field as The Kolisi Field in 2022, in celebration of its most famous past pupil. On 22 October 2024, Kolisi and his wife issued a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram to announce their decision to end their marriage. They stated their intention to remain friends while putting their children first and working together on their foundation. In response to
200-589: A regular member of the national squad. Kolisi also played two matches for South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Japan and Samoa. Kolisi became the first ever black player to lead the Springboks in a Test match in the match against England at Ellis Park on 9 June 2018. He captained the South African team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament in Yokohama , Japan , defeating England 32–12 in
250-721: A three-year contract. Toulon won the Heineken Cup and Top 14 in 2014 and the European Champions Cup in 2015. Habana was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup , where he equalled Jonah Lomu's record of 15 World Cup tries with a hat-trick against the USA. South Africa lost 20–18 in the semi-finals to eventual champions New Zealand and subsequently finished third. Habana was made vice-captain of South Africa in 2016, and brought his career try tally to 67. On 24 April 2018, Habana announced his retirement from all rugby at
300-532: A week later, but this time they were outmuscled 21–6. This kept New Zealand in with a chance of claiming the tournament. Habana played well, making a try-saving tackle on Lachie Turner , but came off at halftime with an injury. He was however declared fit for the visit to New Zealand as the Springboks claimed victory by 32–29, to win their first Tri Nations title since 2004. It was also Habana's first success in that tournament. On 5 December, Habana played on
350-411: A winning Currie Cup final in 2012. Habana was selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and played the first game which South Africa won against Wales 17-16 thanks to tries from François Steyn and Hougaard. They were then victorious against Fiji and Namibia before beating Samoa just 13–5 in which Habana scored a ninth minute try. South Africa however were then knocked out of the tournament by Australia in
400-597: The 1997 tour . After the Lions series came the Tri-Nations. New Zealand beat Australia in the opening game 22–16, so the pressure was on South Africa to claim a victory over the All Blacks in their opener at Bloemfontein . They did this with a 28–19 win. They played the All Blacks at Durban the following week. This was Habana's 50th test and South Africa won 31–19 with Morné Steyn scoring all 31 points. This
450-593: The 2010 and 2011 IRB Junior World Championships . Kolisi made his national team debut as Springbok 851 on 15 June 2013 against Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit . He replaced the injured Arno Botha in the 5th minute and was named as Man of the Match as South Africa won 30–17. Nine further substitute appearances followed during the 2013 international season as he firmly established himself as
500-656: The All Blacks at Newlands was also a win for South Africa. In the second match against Australia in Perth , Habana scored two tries in the 22–19 win. The All Blacks won the last match of the series, a thrilling 31–27 win for the New Zealanders at Carisbrook . Although South Africa did not win the series, Habana had established himself on the international stage, finishing as the tournament's joint highest try-scorer with New Zealands' Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko . In
550-767: The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa , Kolisi and his wife launched The Kolisi Foundation in 2020. The foundation aims to change the narratives of inequality in South Africa. The focus areas of the Kolisi Foundation address the systemic issues in Gender-Based Violence, Food Insecurity and Education and Sport, with special attention paid to Zwide township where Kolisi grew up, and other under-resourced areas of South Africa. Kolisi, with his friend, cricketer Faf du Plessis , donated food parcels to
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#1732772326730600-678: The Golden Lions during the 2011 Vodacom Cup and later in the year several injuries and international call-ups gave him the opportunity to make regular starts in the Currie Cup domestic rugby competition. He made 13 appearances and scored 4 tries during the campaign including a crucial score against bitter rivals the Blue Bulls . 2012 saw Kolisi graduate to the Stormers squad and he made an immediate impact with 16 appearances during
650-600: The Springbok set-up for the 2013 Rugby Championship meant he only played in Western Province's final 3 matches of the 2013 Currie Cup and was powerless to prevent them from slipping to a surprise 33–19 home defeat to the Sharks in the final of the competition. Kolisi was selected as the new captain of the Stormers on 20 February 2017. He was selected as the new captain of the Springboks on 28 May 2018, becoming
700-566: The final to lift the Webb Ellis Cup . This was South Africa's third World Cup win, tying with New Zealand . In 2019, Siya Kolisi became the first black captain of a World Cup-winning side. The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa was already on the cards for following the success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. However the global impact of Covid-19 and the imposed lock-downs, made it impossible for fans to attend
750-521: The season , scoring one try. The second half of the year was not so kind to him as a thumb injury restricted him to just one appearance in the 2012 Currie Cup and he had to watch on from the sidelines as Province lifted the trophy for their 33rd Currie Cup title. Kolisi returned with a bang the following year and held his place in the Stormers side despite fierce competition among the loose forwards. 13 appearances and 2 tries were recorded and this earned him his first international recognition. Being part of
800-501: The 2007 IRB Awards, held in Paris on 21 October. The 2008 season wasn't Habana's greatest. Although he kept his spot in the Springboks side, he failed to make an impact like he did in the previous year. He only scored two tries in the whole year, one against the All Blacks in their 19–8 loss and one against England in the 42–6 win. The team struggled to adapt to new coach Peter de Villiers incoherent model for an expansive game, and thus
850-579: The 2009 Tri-Nations title it would be Habana's first tournament win meaning he would have won every tournament in professional southern hemisphere rugby. South Africa then won their first away-game and their 4th match out of 4 in the Tri Nations with a 32–25 victory over the Wallabies at Subiaco Oval in Perth . Habana scored 2 of the 4 tries. The Springboks would take on the Wallabies in Brisbane
900-490: The Blue Bulls. Following the 2005 Super 12 season , Habana was, as expected, included in the 2005 Springboks squad. He played on the left wing in South Africa's opening match of 2005 against Uruguay , whom the Springboks defeated 134–3, with Habana scoring two tries. South Africa then hosted France for a two test series; drawing the first 30-all, and winning the second 27–13, with Habana scoring two tries in both games. In
950-523: The Bulls a dramatic 20–19 victory over the Sharks. The try was especially hard to take for Sharks fans as it was debated if Habana should have even been on the field after dangerously tackling fullback Percy Montgomery in the air, in the opening minutes of the game. Habana later admitted in an interview that, despite not intending to cause Montgomery harm, he should have been sent off for the challenge. Habana
1000-640: The Currie Cup, the Blue Bulls made it to the final, which was played at home at Loftus Versfeld, against the Free State Cheetahs . The Cheetahs, somewhat underdogs, won the final. In November of that year, Habana earned caps for South Africa against Argentina, Wales and France, scoring two tries in the Welsh match. Habana was named to the five-man shortlist for 2005 IRB World Player of the Year, and
1050-518: The Kolisi household, after five years in orphanages and foster care in Port Elizabeth . Rachel, one year older than Siya, is from Grahamstown and worked in event management before taking on duties as a full-time mother. Kolisi was also the brother-in-law of South Africa's most decorated female swimmer Tatjana Smith , who is married to Rachel's brother Joel Smith. Kolisi is a Christian and
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#17327723267301100-435: The Lions were more fired up and led 19–8 with 20 minutes to go before Habana burst through their defence and scored one of his most memorable tries. The Springboks went on to win after his Bulls teammate Morné Steyn kicked a last gasp penalty from 53 metres (58 yd). Habana was rested for the final test, a game which South Africa would rather forget as they lost 28–9 but with their series win they gained revenge after losing
1150-648: The South African Government for his contributions to rugby. In October 2023, Siya Kolisi captained South Africa to a historic fourth Rugby World Cup in Paris, France, and became only the second captain to win the title back-to-back. Kolisi is one of 44 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions and one of 25 South Africans to do so. Kolisi grew up in Zwide, iBhayi , a township in Port Elizabeth . Kolisi's mother, Phakama,
1200-453: The South African team at the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament in Paris , France , defeating the old foe, the valiant All Blacks 12–11 in the final to lift the Webb Ellis Cup . Kolisi accredited the campaign outcome to the team and the coaches for the super work done and thanks the departing Jacques Nienaber in a powerful three minute speech that left he world agog. Going into the final, there
1250-481: The Springbok backline failed to find attacking impetus throughout that season. The Springboks had a poor year, only winning two of their six games in the 2008 Tri Nations but came back at the end of the year to win all of their Tour Matches against Wales , Scotland and England . Habana had a mixed super 14 season. He was quiet on attack, but was a rock on defence, later he found his attacking form and finished
1300-815: The cherry on top was the South Africans became the first nation to a fourth World Cup win, leaving New Zealand as the only nation at three world cups. Thus in 2023, Siya Kolisi became the first South Africa captain to lift the Webb Ellis trophy twice and matched Richie McCaw of New Zealand, to being the only two winning captains of all time to lead their nations triumphantly in successive Rugby World Cup campaigns. Kolisi married Rachel Smith in 2016 and as of 2022 they have two children together: son Nicholas Siyamthanda (born 2015) and daughter Keziah (born 2017). Since 2014 Siya's half-siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, children of Siya's mother who died in 2009, have been part of
1350-656: The community street feeding scheme in Bonteheuwel during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In July 2020, Kolisi was named a UN Global Advocate for the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls. P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, Tri = Tries scored, Pts = Points scored Order of Ikhamanga The Order of Ikhamanga is a South African civilian honour that recognises achievements in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports. Before
1400-516: The cover defence, regathered the ball and scored near the corner flag. To score the second, he intercepted the ball after Argentina had gone blindside off a scrum, running nearly the length of the field to dot the ball down under the posts. He was a part of the world cup winning side contributing to the defeat of England in the 2007 final. Habana was awarded the IRB Player of the Year Award at
1450-597: The first black man to hold the position and eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England , and again in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand . In December 2019, Kolisi was named in New African magazine's list of 100 Most Influential Africans. In April 2023, Kolisi was bestowed the National Order of Ikhamanga by
1500-501: The game was lost 32–16, Habana came on as a reserve to score a try with his first touch of the ball against the then World Cup holders. The following week Habana was moved into the starting line-up, where he contributed two tries to the 45–10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield . The next week, he was selected in the same position, on the left wing, in that year's final match against Argentina in Buenos Aires . In 2005, he moved to
1550-401: The games at the various stadia in South Africa. The tour was eventually agreed to still be staged and was broadcast world over reaching unprecedented viewership highs. There was doubt that the South Africans would be worthy challengers to the touring party due to no rugby being played by them in 2020. Siya Kolisi as captain, led his team of titans, who seemed unphased by the lost year and emulated
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1600-721: The greatest players in the history of the sport. He played for the Golden Lions , the Blue Bulls and Western Province in South Africa, for the Bulls and the Stormers in Super Rugby, and for Toulon in the French Top 14 , and won 124 caps for the South Africa national team . Habana was part of the South Africa team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was one of the stars of the tournament, his eight tries equalling
1650-513: The lead-up to the 2005 Tri Nations , Habana played in two tests against Australia , the first, a loss at Telstra Stadium , and then a 33–20 win at home at Ellis Park , with Habana scoring in the second Test. Habana made his Tri Nations debut on 30 July against the Wallabies at the Bulls' home of Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria . South Africa won the match 22–16. The subsequent match against
1700-614: The left wing for the Barbarians for their 'Final Challenge' against New Zealand. He scored 3 tries as the Barbarians defeated the All Blacks, who had not lost a match in the Northern hemisphere in 2 years. In 2009 Habana moved to Cape Town , to play for Western Province and the Stormers starting in 2010. Habana played for the Stormers in a losing Super Rugby final in 2010, a losing Currie Cup final for Western Province in 2010 and
1750-454: The neck. The Order of Ikhamanga was designed by Charles Peter Gareth Smart, a graphic designer based in Pretoria, South Africa . The table below lists the members of the Order of Ikhamanga. Bryan Habana Bryan Gary Habana OIS (born 12 June 1983) is a South African former professional rugby union player. Playing mainly as a wing , he is widely considered to be one of
1800-611: The order was established on 30 November 2003, such achievements were recognised by the Order of the Baobab . The Order of Ikhamanga is granted by the President of South Africa to South African citizens . Ikhamanga is the Xhosa name for Strelitzia reginae , a flower. The order has three classes: The egg-shaped badge depicts a rising sun, a " Lydenburg head ", two strelitzia flowers,
1850-414: The previous 2007 Rugby World Cup winning side by beating the Lions two matches to one in series. And just like in 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa , the final kick to clinch the series was another long range penalty by the ice-cool Morne Steyn , who with Frans Steyn (who was in the squad but did'nt play) have now won an unprecedented second Lions tour on home soil. He again captained
1900-604: The quarter-finals by 11–9. Habana played two tests against England in the June internationals and 5 tests in The Rugby Championship against Argentina , Australia and New Zealand. He scored a hat trick of tries against Australia as well as tries, home and away, against the All Blacks On 11 January 2013, Habana confirmed he would move to French club Toulon at the end of the 2013 Super Rugby season , on
1950-565: The record for a single tournament set by Jonah Lomu in 1999. He was subsequently named the 2007 IRB Player of the Year . During the 2015 Rugby World Cup Habana equalled Lomu's career record of 15 tries in World Cups. He is in second place among all time test try scorers , with 67 tries. Habana was born in Johannesburg and named Bryan Gary Habana, after former Manchester United footballers Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey . Habana
2000-644: The season second top try scorer, with 8 tries. This led to the Blue Bulls regaining their title as Champions of the Southern Hemisphere. Habana had targeted the Lions tour as one of the biggest moments of his career, possibly bigger than the World Cup. In a close first test the South Africans defeated the Lions 26–21, but Habana failed to show the form he had displayed in the Super 14. In the second test,
2050-468: The second test. In April 2007 Habana competed against a cheetah in a 100-meter race to help raise awareness of the imminent danger of the cheetah being classified as an endangered species , according to De Wildt officials. He lost, because cheetahs can run 70 mph, instead of 22 mph. Habana's most dramatic act of the 2007 Super 14 season was his last minute try in the final, enabling flyhalf Derick Hougaard to make an easy conversion and giving
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2100-586: The successful majority share purchase of the Sharks by MVM Holidings. Kolisi signed for Top 14 side Racing 92 in January 2023, joining them after the World Cup later that year. Kolisi rejoined the Sharks, his contract with Racing 92 was due to run out in 2026 but the French club agreed to terminate it early after only one season. Kolisi was a member of the South Africa under 20 side that competed in both
2150-491: The team's first black captain in its 126-year history. Bryan Habana , former Springbok and of mixed race, praised Kolisi's appointment: "It's a monumental moment for South African rugby, and a moment in South African history." Kolisi was on the board of directors of MyPlayers Rugby, which is the players' organisation of all the professional rugby players in South Africa. Kolisi signed for the Sharks in February 2021 following
2200-616: Was 16 when Siya was born and his father, Fezakele, was in his final year of school. Kolisi's mother died when he was 15, leaving his late grandmother, Nolulamile, to raise him. At the age of 12, he impressed scouts at a youth tournament in Mossel Bay and was offered a scholarship at Grey Junior in Port Elizabeth. He was subsequently offered a rugby scholarship to Grey High School , which South African cricketer Graeme Pollock and England International Mike Catt had attended. Kolisi
2250-666: Was a regular member of the first XV high school rugby team. He was also a part of the Eastern Province Kings youth set-up between 2007 and 2009, playing in the Under-16 Grant Khomo week and the Under-18 Craven Week before shifting west to join Western Province. He further represented the South Africa national under-18 rugby union team (SA Schools team) for two consecutive years. Kolisi made his senior debut for Western Province against
2300-425: Was also selected by SA Rugby as 2005 South Africa Player of the Year in 2005. The Springboks endured a poor year in 2006 as they lost four of their six tri nations matches. They also lost to France in the midyear test and lost to Ireland 32–15 – a game in which Habana was averted to centre for the first time in a Springbok shirt. He scored a try. They then lost to England in the first test but gained revenge in
2350-648: Was educated at King Edward VII School and Rand Afrikaans University (now known as the University of Johannesburg ). He played outside centre and scrum-half in provincial and age group rugby. He was a member of the South Africa Sevens side in the 2003–2004 World Sevens Series . He made his Currie Cup debut for the Golden Lions in 2004, doing well enough to be voted the country's most promising player that year. That November, he made his Test debut against England at Twickenham aged 21. Though
2400-517: Was no doubt that whoever wins, shall be the undisputed leader in rugby, with this team having the opportunity to match the New Zealand team of 2011 and 2015 by winning back to back world cups and further to that the winning nation shall be first to an incredible and unprecedented fourth World Cup title. With the eventual and epic win, South Africa equally the back-to-back record win set my the New Zealand team of 2011 and 2015 rugby world cups, however
2450-530: Was selected on the wing for the Springboks first game of the 2007 Rugby World Cup , where he scored four tries in the 59–7 win over Samoa in Paris . In South Africa's final group game, he scored two tries against the US in Montpellier. He also scored two tries against Argentina in the semifinal, equalling Jonah Lomu 's record of 8 tries in one World Cup. To score the first try, he chipped the defensive line, outran
2500-507: Was the first time they'd beaten the All Blacks in successive games at home in 33 years (South Africa won 3 out of 4 home tests against New Zealand in 1976). The next week they took on Australia in Cape Town . South Africa once again came home with a 29–17 win. This meant they'd won all of their home games in the tournament for the first time since 2005 putting them on course for their first championship win since 2004 . If South Africa take
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