In a video to warm up every South African, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was seen adding the fourth William Webb Ellis Cup to the South Africa Rugby Union’s trophy cabinet in Cape Town.
There are things one loves to to see, and then there are things you really, really love to see. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi gave South Africans something to smile about on Friday.
Kolisi was seen in a video on the Springboks’ social media channels placing the William Webb Ellis trophy in the South African Rugby Union’s trophy cabinet at the organisation’s headquarters in Cape Town. Satisfyingly, he placed it next to three other replicas of rugby’s greatest prize.
Kolisi had already lifted the trophy in 2019, with Francois Pienaar being handed the trophy by president Nelson Mandela in 1995 (South Africa), and John Smit receiving this honour from president Thabo Mbeki in 2007 (France). Current president Cyril Ramaphosa was with Kolisi on the stage in Japan and France.
As is tradition, SARU will hold the original trophy for the next two years, before it is returned to World Rugby’s headquarters in Dublin. In its place, a replica will be flown down to South Africa for keeps forever.
Kolisi has joined French Top 14 team Racing 92, following his departure from the Hollywoodbets Sharks after the conclusion of the United Rugby Championship back in May.
The 32-year-old made it very clear that he has no intention on calling it a day when it comes to Test rugby, playing until he is deemed surplus to requirements at the international level. The next men’s Rugby World Cup will take place in Australia in 2027, when Kolisi will be 36, and if all goes according to plan, he could become the first captain to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup on three staggering occasions.
