SA Rugby magazine takes a look at the timeline of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s career so far after he was officially unveiled as a Sharks player.
READ: It’s official: Sharks confirm Kolisi signing
Key events in Kolisi’s career to date:
2003 – Kolisi plays U12 trials for Eastern Province and earns a scholarship to attend Grey Junior and Grey High from 2004.
2007 – Kolisi is named captain of the Grey High U16A team and earns a place in the Eastern Province U16 Grant Khomo Week team, helping them win the interprovincial tournament.
2008-09 – Kolisi becomes a regular member of Grey High’s U19A side and plays for the EP U18 Craven Week and the SA Schools teams.
2010 – Kolisi joins Western Province and wins the U19 Currie Cup in the first year with the team.
26 February 2011 – Kolisi makes his senior debut for Western Province in their Vodacom Cup clash with the Lions. The game ends in an 18-18 draw.
16 July 2011 – Kolisi makes a Currie Cup starting debut for Western Province in their opening fixture against Griquas at Newlands. He scores a try as WP draw 26-26. Province go on to make the semi-finals, where they lose against the Lions, who win the tournament.
25 February 2012 – After being called up to the Stormers squad, Kolisi makes his first Super Rugby start after replacing Schalk Burger, who misses the team’s opener against the Hurricanes due to illness. Kolisi scores a try in the 28th minute as the Stormers win 39-26. The Stormers finish as semi-finalists after losing 26-19 to the Sharks at Newlands.
15 June 2013 – Kolisi is called up to the Springbok squad for the incoming tour and makes his Test debut against Scotland in Nelspruit, replacing the injured Arno Botha in the fourth minute of play. The Springboks win a tightly contested match 30-17 and he is named man of the match.
28 August 2015 – Kolisi is named in the 31-man Springbok squad for the 2015 World Cup in England. He plays two Tests at the tournament, against Japan and Samoa.
20 February 2017 – Stormers coach Robbie Fleck names Kolisi as the team’s new captain ahead of the 2017 Super Rugby season, with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth serving as his deputy.
28 May 2018 – Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirms that Kolisi will captain the Springboks in 2018, making him the first black captain in the Springboks’ history.
9 June 2018 – Kolisi leads the Springboks out for the first time in their incoming tour Test against England at Ellis Park. After falling behind in the match, the Springboks produce a monumental comeback to win 42-39. The Springboks take the series after beating England 23-12 in Bloemfontein the following week.
15 September 2018 – Kolisi captains the Springboks to a historic 36-34 victory against the All Blacks in Wellington. It is the team’s first win in New Zealand since 2009.
30 May 2019 – Kolisi’s fitness for the 2019 World Cup is in doubt after he picks up a knee injury while playing for the Stormers against the Highlanders.
17 August 2019 – Kolisi makes his Test comeback against Argentina in Durban, a week after playing for Western Province in the Currie Cup.
27 August 2019 – Kolisi is officially confirmed as Springbok captain for the 31-man squad that departs for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
2 November 2019 – Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis trophy after the Springboks beat England 32-12 in the World Cup final in Yokohama, becoming just the third Springbok captain to do so after John Smit and Francois Pienaar.
1 February 2020 – In his first game since the 2019 World Cup final, Kolisi tears his knee ligaments during the Stormers’ opening Super Rugby fixture against the Hurricanes. He plays no further part in the campaign until it is ended by the Covid-19 pandemic.
23 October 2020 – After making a return to action the previous weekend against the Lions, Kolisi is once again injured in the first half of the Stormers’ match against the Pumas.
26 November 2020 – Kolisi returns to action and leads Western Province through to the semi-finals of the Currie Cup, where they are beaten by the Sharks at Newlands.
9 January 2021 – Rumours of a potential deal between Kolisi and the Sharks emerge following MVM Holdings’ investment in the Durban franchise.
14 February 2021 – Western Province officially confirm that they have reached an agreement with Kolisi to release him from his contract.
17 February 2021 – Kolisi is officially unveiled as a Sharks player.
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Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
