1
'I'm sure he'll have a role to play': Siya Kolisi's future in politics
By Josh Raisey
South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard says he can "easily see" his teammate Siya Kolisi moving into politics when his rugby career comes to an end.
The flanker's influence has reached far beyond the rugby pitch ever since he lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019, and he has long been tipped to move into politics after rugby, with a longstanding half-joke that he should run for President.
After leading South Africa to World Cup glory again last year, and now approaching the twilight years of his career at the age of 32, Kolisi is forced to address this issue a lot, and insists he does not want to move into politics. However, his teammate is not sure that will always be the case, and says he has "too good a heart not to get involved in something".
As a guest on RugbyPass TV's The Big Jim Show recently, the Leicester Tigers fly-half discussed the impact that the Springboks winning the World Cup has had on South Africa, but says there is only so much they can do as rugby players.
"We've got to be realistic, it's South Africa and there were probably troubles and bad things going on that day after the final again, but I still think there's a bit of that nice feeling still going around the country," the 29-year-old said.
"Hopefully we can ride that wave of positive energy because that's what we really need at the moment in South Africa.
"We can only do what we do, we are rugby players, we try and bring joy to the country and positivity. By winning World Cups that helps, but there are people in much higher places that have to keep driving this.
"So, I don't know if Siya is going to go into politics after rugby. He always says no, but we'll see about that.
"I can easily see it, I can understand if he doesn't want to do it. But I think he's going to play a role some way or another, in some way or form. What that is, we don't know, we'll see but he's got too good a heart not to get involved in something if he knows he can have a positive influence. I'm sure he'll have a role to play."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Marcus Smith was lucky to stay on for 60 minutes
3
Paddy Jackson's second season at Lyon is all but over – report
4
New Zealand rugby commentator’s blunt All Blacks assessment
5
Latest Comments
That is not what is selected.
Go to commentsABs by 4……
IF
The Razor gang has given the AB’s a game plan A, B, C & etc (unlike so many AB games since 2016). &
IF
AB’s play 80+ minutes. &
IF
ABs do their individual & team jobs error free (‘ish) (unlike so many AB team since 2016). &
IF
All the ‘critical V Ireland’ AB form mobile forwards stay on field for the 80min S.Barrett, Sititi, Savea, and Vaa’i swap with Cane when he tires & Tuipulotu comes on. Finau back up. &
IF
The 10's get a better ‘cunning game plan’ than BB, ie his kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, ETC! (& MacK does have a better game plan). &
IF
Aumua can throw to lineouts . &
IF
The AB’s can remember their lineout calls (unlike too many V England games 1, 2 & 3). &
IF
Williams can be coached to stop being sucked into experienced tactics to drop him to the ground. &
IF
The AB coaches, teach all ABs some ‘soccer like’ drama queen fouling acting skills to make clear to the ref 1 of the most common Irish tactics ie obstruction by ‘stray’ decoy attackers around contact zone (tackle, ruck, maul). &
IF
The ABs have their arm out away if not tackling any, again, decoy attackers (or defenders) that run into them to try milk penalties as England did (eg penalty against Cane the worst). &
IF
S.Barrett can change & captain with assertiveness & presence to even be noticed by the ref (way to passive). &
IF
There's no food poisoning.
Go to comments