Siya Kolisi: Where I'd like to play if I ever left South Africa

Springboks World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi has revealed where he would like to play his club rugby if he ever left South Africa. The soon-to-be 31-year-old back-rower joined the Sharks in Durban in February 2021 after spending a decade playing for the Stormers in Cape Town and he is immensely happy with that move.

However, during a guest appearance on this week’s RugbyPass Offload, the South African captain was asked which European club would he fancy joining if he had the chance to. Kolisi, though, suggested a switch to Europe would be too much for him.

Not only does he love South Africa too much and is too attached to it, the relentlessness of the game in Europe wouldn’t be to his liking and he would instead look to go to somewhere like Japan where the rigours of the Top League aren’t as draining on the body. 

Connacht senior coach Peter Wilkins talks about the Irish ‘spy’ in the Sharks camp

Connacht senior coach Peter Wilkins talks about the Irish ‘spy’ in the Sharks camp

“I have thought a lot about it [moving] but I would miss South Africa too much, number one,” said the Springboks skipper when asked where he would live to play if he left his homeland for club rugby. “I know we are a third world country and have so many struggles but I still think it is the greatest country in the world. 

“There is so much that I love here in South Africa. I now have a young family settling down. I have moved now from Cape Town to Durban so, but in the past I did want to (move). 

RugbyPass Offload with Siya Kolisi ?

A stunningly honest podcast from the brilliant @SiyaKolisi

We talk…
– His thoughts on the URC ?
– Training with one of his best friends, Eben Etzebeth ?
– Overcoming the hardships of his childhood

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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 27, 2022

“I was talking to a club after 2015, I was talking to Toulouse before Cheslin (Kolbe) went, but since then I don’t know. I’m not getting any younger now so I’m not sure if I would go to Europe. If I ever leave I think I would go to Japan. I can’t leave this hard rugby to another hard rugby.”

Kolisi was also asked for his thoughts on the speculation that the Springboks will eventually migrate from the Rugby Championship and instead join up with the Six Nations. “Honestly I really don’t think about that too much because I enjoy playing in the Championship and we have got a long commitment. 

“I have only heard that in the news… I do enjoy the battle that we have with New Zealand and I wouldn’t be against anything. I just do what I am told. I go to training and I work and if it is the competition we are playing in, that’s it. At the moment our full focus is with the Championship this year and it’s going to be hard and really quick.”