Mike Greenaway
Springbok captain Siya Kolsi has been released by his French club Racing 92 and is set to return to the Sharks, where he will play out his career.
The Sharks have confirmed they are talking to Kolisi but have left it that. However, the informed whispers are that an announcement will be made this week that the 33-year-old will return to Durban after a time in Paris that did not work out as planned.
Kolisi had asked the Sharks to release him early so that he could have time out of the South African spotlight but the French club has accused him of not being on top form, while it is known that he has been homesick for his Cape Town-based family.
Kolisi was supposed to play for Racing until the end of 2026 but the two parties have agreed on an early release.
Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti reportedly told Kolisi he was overweight and had been invisible in a semi-final loss in the Top 14. Kolisi has subsequently made up with Lorenzetti and he reportedly leaves Paris with the Racing president’s blessing.
Kolisi played 18 times in all competitions in his first season as the Parisian club progressed to the 2023/24 Top 14 semi-finals.
In three seasons with the Sharks, Kolisi made 31 appearances, his last appearance coming in the round 18 match against Munster in 2022 when he suffered a knee injury that threatened his hopes of participating in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
If Kolisi does return to Durban, it will not be for some time. The Bok skipper is currently in Australia, and is expected to captain the Boks against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Sydney in the opening round of the Rugby Championship on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm).
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will select his match day 23 for that match tomorrow. Thereafter, however, Kolisi will also be involved in the second game in Perth next weekend. Back-to-back Tests await against the All Blacks, starting at the end of August.
The Boks’ Championship wraps up against Argentina later that month over two legs. The United Rugby Championship starts during that leg of the Test tournament, with the Sharks hosting the Lions on Saturday, September 21 – the first match day against the Pumas.
The Boks will also play three Test during the Autumn internationals against Scotland, England and Wales in November