Siya Kolisi pays tribute to township foundation upon Springbok milestone

Kolisi will run out and lead the reigning world champions as they take on France in a rematch of the epic 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal at the Stade de France tonight (22:10, SA time). 

The 34-year-old has reluctantly welcomed his personal milestone, but could not resist paying tribute to his childhood support system from the township community in Zwide to his family, and his youth mentors and school funders as he reflected on his journey. 

"How I feel? I'm very proud, I'm honoured and I'm actually grateful and thankful to everybody who's played a part in my life because I think without my community, first of all, they say [it takes a village], and I've been helped by so many people," said Kolisi.

"So many different people from different walks of life, but I think the foundation of who I am is definitely from Zwide – the people of Zwide, and not just Zwide actually, the township in general because it's the same in New Brighton, KwaZakhele, or wherever.

"I think if the people there didn't parent me like they were my parents – when I made mistakes, or when I was doing stupid stuff, they take you and give you a quick smack, take you to your house and you get another smack for whatever you do.

"And I think for the teachers, who believed in me at school, Mr Eric Songwiqi, who played a huge role in my rugby career, he used to drive me [because] we didn't have a car and I couldn't afford transport, so Mr Eric would drive me to trials and took me to Grey [High School].

"And then Mr Andrew Hayidakis took over after that, when I got to Grey, and obviously Mr Vincent Mai, who paid for my whole schooling and is actually here [in Paris], he came from America for this game.

"And there's so many other people that I've met and probably haven't mentioned, but my grandmother too, who is not with us anymore and who I would have loved to be here and experience this with me."

READ: Humble Kolisi has always put the team first - Rassie Erasmus