South Africa’s Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup with team-mates following victory in the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture date: Saturday October 28, 2023. Photo: David Davies / PA
Will Siya Kolisi captain the Springboks in 2024?
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has answered the question on everybody’s lips and clarified his availability for selection in 2024.
South Africa’s Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup with team-mates following victory in the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Picture date: Saturday October 28, 2023. Photo: David Davies / PA
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has laid out his intent to lead the team to a third Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
The Springboks are only set to return to action in the July Test window in 2024 when they are pencilled in to host Ireland.
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Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi won’t retire
The 32-year-old said that retirement is the furtherest thing from his mind at the moment on his return to South Africa.
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“Personally, nothing will change. I will still be available for selection. I really want to play,” Kolisi said when asked if he intended to retire.
Kolisi is hopeful of retaining the captaincy but ever the team man said that he would defer to the coaches on that matter.
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“About being captain … I don’t know. I’m not the coach. What matters to me the most is putting on the Springbok jersey. Being captain is not the most important thing.
“If I said to you I dreamt of being the Springbok captain I would be lying to you.”
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Kolisi has identified that this World Cup campaign changes the game for everyone involved, however he is looking forward to fresh challenges.
“I am looking forward to the new journey, but for now we’re going to enjoy being home and being double world champions, back-to-back,” he said.
Time to inspire
Kolisi said that he and the team have always been motivated to deliver for the fans and for the next generation of Springbok heroes.
“We made a decision that we had already one the World Cup in 2019 – it’s not about us as players anymore.
“We wanted to make sure that this one is for the people of South Africa. This one is for every single person in South Africa. Rich, poor… it doesn’t matter where you come from.
“This trophy is also for people who come from tough circumstances in disadvantaged areas – areas that are not well resourced.
“For the kid who sits in Zwide, who sits in Goodwood, who sits in Malmesbury… this is for you because we come from those environments, we come from those backgrounds.”
