From Zwide to world champion, Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test marks a legacy beyond rugby.
Here comes the thunder: Siya Kolisi, the man from Zwide, rising to his rightful place at the summit of global rugby, is about to run out in the green and gold for what is very likely his 100th Test cap for the Springboks this weekend in Paris. That kind of milestone isn’t just a number. It’s a story of grit, belief, heritage and leadership. Kolisi became the first black captain of the Springboks back in 2018, and he has since steered South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories (2019 and 2023).
In the world of the United Rugby Championship, Kolisi has made his mark too. He cut his teeth at the DHL Stormers before joining the Hollywoodbets Sharks, conducting a chapter in Durban that’s as much about character and cultural connection as it is about carrying the ball. Through countless carries, breakdowns, tackles and leadership moments, he’s helped raise the profile of South African rugby in the URC landscape, showing that the relentless physicality and heart that he brings internationally are mirrored domestically. To witness him domestically is to glimpse a captain comfortable in his own skin, still in the trenches.
If you trace his career arc it’s almost cinematic: the young lad from the Eastern Cape, breaking through at Western Province, then DHL Stormers, then Hollywoodbets Sharks, then France and then back; each step carefully measured, each move carrying its weight. But what elevates Kolisi is his dual legacy as a world-class flanker, as a leader of men, and as a symbol of transformation in South Africa society. He didn’t just wear the jersey, he embodied what it could mean: unity, hope and national pride. When he receives his 100th cap, it won’t just honour his body of work on the field, but the countless young players who see themselves in his footsteps.
As the URC continues to feed the global rugby ecosystem, Kolisi’s milestone resonates for all the clubs, all the fans and all the young hopefuls dreaming of running out with the world watching. So, this weekend in Paris, as he steps onto the turf with three figures beside his name, know this, the number is simply the headline. What matters is the journey behind it, from township to Test, from raw talent to revered captain. Sit up, take note, because this is one of those rare sports moments that says more than just “player hits milestone”. It says, “legacy in motion”.
