KOLISION COURSE?

AS SPRINGBOK captain Siya Kolisi leads his world champions out against the Barbarians  at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, questions swirl around whether ex Rachel Kolisi will be in the crowd.

This match, the first of its kind on South African soil, not only marks a pivotal moment for rugby fans, but places Rachel squarely in the public eye as she navigates her high-profile divorce from Bok captain Siya.

The Kolisi family has been a staple at Springbok matches in previous years, with Rachel and their four children routinely cheering from the stands.

However, following the announcement of their divorce last October, which was described as a mutual decision founded on respect and a shared commitment to parenthood, the dynamics have shifted.

With Rachel stepping down from her role within the Kolisi Foundation and taking the organisation to the CCMA earlier this year, tensions could be high.

In the past, Rachel has not shied away from expressing her pride in Siya’s achievements, including the Springboks’ triumphant World Cup victory in 2019.

In an interview on the Wide Awake podcast in 2022, she reflected on that memorable final, calling it “one of the most special moments in my life”.

She said: “Winning, of course, was amazing, but also just being a part of an event like that is such a privilege.

“You know, in 2007 when we won the previous World Cup, I was 17 years old, I remember exactly where I was sitting, who I was watching with, what we did after the game. I remembered all of that.

“And it was just surreal to me that in 2019, just 12 years later, I was going to be watching a World Cup final again, but this time married to the Springbok captain, with my children there.

“It’s just crazy what happens in life. You never know where life will take you and what God has in store for you.

She continued: “What was important for me [during that time] was to create a space for Siya where he felt normal even in all this chaos... Just a space where he can decompress.”