Siya Kolisi braced for fierce homecoming battle in Stormers’ loose trio

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is not running away from Durban, and the Sharks will forever hold a dear place in his heart.

However, the saying that home is where the heart is has never rung truer for the Bok legend. His shift to the Stormers later this year has everything to do with wanting to be closer to his kids and friends, while finishing his rugby chapter at the team that first gave him an opportunity.

After a couple of seasons at the Sharks, the 34-year-old will call Cape Town home later this year, where he will represent the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and the Champions Cup, should they qualify this season.

Kolisi will not simply walk into the starting XV of the inaugural URC winners. He will be up against plenty of competition for that jersey, including Paul de Villiers, Marcel Theunissen and other loose forwards.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup just over a year away, the plan will be to use the national skipper sparingly in Cape Town to give him the best chance of being fit and ready for the Boks’ attempt to win a third title in a row.

Kolisi this week admitted the decision to leave Durban was not easy.

“I’m not leaving Durban because I am unhappy, but because of my kids,” Kolisi said.

“That is what makes the move really difficult. The people of KwaZulu-Natal have been amazing to me, but this will be my homecoming, and I am looking forward to that. It’s where my career started and has been my home for 11 years."

While Kolisi knows he will have his work cut out for him to make the side from next season, he is keen to run with the young dogs in Cape Town to show that he can still keep up. He will be able to offer more than a few tips and tricks, but Kolisi also knows he can add to his arsenal ahead of the World Cup.

Kolisi said he is looking forward to playing with the likes of De Villiers and the rest of the Stormers’ loose forwards.

“Paul is amazing, and I think he is having an amazing season. I think he’s picked up like seven or eight Player of the Match awards. He is a great player for the Stormers, very good on the ball, and the supporting lines that he runs on attack are amazing.

“It is always good to compete for places, but I look forward to playing alongside him, Evan Roos, BJ Dixon and Marcel (Theunissen). It will be tough competition at the Stormers, but there is so much I can learn from them.

“Paul and I are two different loose forwards; we play a different game, but he is having an amazing season.”