Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has spent some time at English club Liverpool, where he again met up with manager Jurgen Klopp. Photo: Instagram
PICTURE: Kolisi spends time with Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has spent some time at English club Liverpool, where he again met up with manager Jurgen Klopp.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has spent some time at English club Liverpool, where he again met up with manager Jurgen Klopp. Photo: Instagram
Back in 2019, World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi first described how his fortuitous meeting with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp left him ‘falling off his chair’.
The Bok captain and the national team had been swamped with messages of congratulations following the Boks’ achievements in winning a third Rugby World Cup crown, but Kolisi was left shellshocked when the famous football manager approached him to commend him on the Springboks’ success.
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Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Bok captain – who is a big fan of Liverpool football club – explained how the encounter with Klopp left him lost for words.
“He came and greeted every single person at the table and spoke to me for over 40 minutes,” said the awestruck Bok captain after the first encounter in 2019. “When I saw him I fell off my chair! Everyone around me didn’t understand but I’ve got huge respect for him. He said he knew who I was and that he watched the final.”
Soon after that chance meeting, Kolisi was invited to Anfield, and he has again enjoyed a visit to the English club this week, spending time there as Liverpool trained at the AXA Training Ground in Kirkby.
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Kolisi and the Boks will next be on international duty on the upcoming end-of-year tour
In a few weeks’ time the Boks will jet off to the northern hemisphere they will take on Ireland (November 5), France (November 12), Italy (November 19) and England (November 26).
The Springboks currently find themselves in third place in the latest World Rugby rankings following the conclusion of the 2022 Rugby Championship.
Tournament winners, the All Blacks, are in fourth.
Ireland continue to lead the way ahead of France, while Australia have plummeted to a lowly ninth place, below Argentina who finished bottom of the Rugby Championship log.
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TOP 10 IN THE LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS:
1. Ireland – 90.03
2. France – 89.41
3. South Africa – 89.00
4. New Zealand – 87.30
5. England – 86.25
6. Scotland – 81.93
7. Wales – 81.28
8. Argentina – 81.21
9. Australia – 80.65
10. Japan – 77.74
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