Sawt Falasteen - Springbok captain Kolisi to rejoin Stormers

The Springboks' first black Test captain began his career with Stormers before moving to the Durban-based Sharks in 2020.

After a mediocre season with Racing 92 in the French Top 14 and with the collapse of his marriage, he returned to the Sharks in 2024.

"This transfer will allow Kolisi to be closer to his family and contribute to the team where it all began for him after playing school rugby," a Stormers statement said.

The 34-year-old Kolisi, who has won 103 Tests caps for the record four-time world champions, also stressed his desire to return to the Cape.

"My family lives in Cape Town, and it is important for me to be close to them," he said.

"This move gives me the opportunity to do so while also giving back to the team and the fans who have contributed so much to making me the player and the man I am today."

The versatile loose forward has capped off a convincing season with South Africa, who will be aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Rugby World Cup title in 2027 in Australia.

They will face Italy, Georgia and Romania in the first round.

Ranked No. 1 in the world and successful defenders of the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title this year, the Springboks inflicted a record 43-10 defeat on New Zealand in Wellington in September.

They won all five of their Autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere, seeing off France 32-17 and Ireland 24-13, as well as Japan, Italy and Wales.

In Cape Town, Kolisi will play alongside Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the star of the South Africa Test season.

H.Darwish--SF-PST