Siya Kolisi
Rugby union player
By South African Index Editorial Desk · Published · Updated
Siya Kolisi captained South Africa to victory at the 2019 and 2023 men’s Rugby World Cups. World Rugby identifies him as the Springboks’ first Black captain. [1][2]
Biography
Kolisi’s place in South African rugby is closely tied to the captaincy of the national side. World Rugby describes the 2019 tournament as the occasion on which the Springboks, led by their first Black captain, defeated England in the final. The governing body treats that victory as a major moment in the team’s history. [1]
He remained captain for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. World Rugby’s final review records South Africa’s 12–11 victory over New Zealand and Kolisi lifting the trophy. It also notes that he became the second captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice. [2]
Those results describe team achievements, not individual awards. Kolisi’s distinct documented role was to lead the South African side on the field in both tournaments. This profile avoids attributing the victories to one player alone. [1][2]
Key contributions
Captained South Africa during its 2019 Rugby World Cup victory. [1]
Captained the team again in its successful 2023 campaign. [2]
Career timeline
Sources
- World Rugby, RWC 2023 Spotlight: South Africa. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-23. ↩
- World Rugby, RWC Finals Review: South Africa stand alone as four-time champions, 2023-10-29. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-23. ↩