Siya Kolisi cheered from the stands as his new club Racing 92 beat Parisian rivals Stade Francais on Saturday in the French Top 14.
The 32-year-old joined the side after lifting a second Webb Ellis trophy late last month and will make his debut for the Parisians next Sunday against La Rochelle.
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The iconic Springbok followed the game alongside Chelsea captain Reece James, as the English Premier League footballer benefitted from his free time during the international break to take in the match. The pair are represented by the same agency, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
For the win 🔥🔥🔥#RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/9RpCUgsSjY
— Racing 92 (@racing92) November 18, 2023
Racing’s victory in rainy conditions had moved them above Stade Francais to top of the table based on their head-to-head record before Castres beat 31-23 Toulouse later in the day to go third and send Stade back top with all three sides tied on points after seven rounds.
Family 🩵🤍
Merci à tous et comme dirait Boris « un bon samedi !!! » #RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/cJru1BjtoN
— Racing 92 (@racing92) November 18, 2023
“I’ve been involved in many big derbies internationally with England-Wales, England-France, or club level with Leinster-Munster, and it’s right up there the feeling in the changing room,” said Racing coach Stuart Lancaster.
“It wasn’t perfect, but I felt all the big players stood up and played and we deserved it in the end,” the former England and Leinster boss added.
Kolisi’s new outfit led 10-6 at the break thanks to centre Henry Chavancy’s try and four points from the boot of South African flyhalf Tristan Tedder.
Stade Francais flyhalf Joris Segonds made it a one-point game just after the interval with his third penalty of the match.
Racing, champions in 2016, held on for victory, an eighth straight at their rivals’ Stade Jean-Bouin, as promising French scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec kicked a 54th-minute penalty.
© Agence France-Presse