Stormers captain Siya Kolisi says he is looking forward to getting back on the field this weekend after a busy off-season. DYLAN JACK reports.
Following the Springboks’ incredible 2019 World Cup win, the world has moved really fast for Kolisi. While his fellow Bok teammates have been able to put their feet up, Kolisi has travelled the globe during the off-season, signing with Jay-Z’s management company Roc Nation Sports and making an appearance at Anfield to watch his favourite English Premier League club Liverpool.
Now back into the swing of things with the Stormers, Kolisi wants to make 2020 a memorable season for the Cape-based outfit.
‘It is really awesome to be back,’ Kolisi said. ‘Obviously things just went straight up after the World Cup. It has been a lot. I have been travelling around the world, which was awesome, I won’t lie. But it is really good to be back, to be playing rugby each and every day and back into my routine.
‘I have enjoyed each and every day of it, meeting a lot of the new guys. The awesome thing is that a lot of the guys stayed at the union. That is one of the big positives for us as a group. Dobbo was able to keep everybody here. I don’t think many of the guys wanted to leave anyway. It just shows how much we love the union and back the new coaching staff.’
2020 will be of special significance for the players, fans and management with the team to bid farewell to Newlands Stadium, with a move to Cape Town Stadium set for 2021.
‘I am just excited. It is a different year. An emotional year for a lot of us,’ Kolisi added. ‘Not just us, but the faithful, who have been in and out supporting us. Finding out that it is our last year at Newlands, it is tough for a lot of us but we want to try and use it as a positive and give the people something to smile about. It has been a tough few years since 2010. With the squad that we have, we are very positive.
‘We are hoping people will come to make it a year of celebration and give the people something, so that they can say despite the challenges of the last couple of years that Newlands was really amazing.’
Kolisi is set to make his first Stormers outing of the year in the SuperHero Sunday fixture against the Sharks at the FNB Stadium. The Stormers will be mixing their squads between youngsters and Springboks as they face the Kings in Knysna on Friday.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
