South Africa's Siya Kolisi lines up during the national anthems before the match. Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Home » Captain Kolisi Out of Rugby Championship as Springboks Head to New Zealand

Captain Kolisi Out of Rugby Championship as Springboks Head to New Zealand

CAPE TOWN  – Sadly South African Captain Siya Kolisi will not be able to take part in the remaining matches of the 2019 Rugby Championship, due to an injury sustained in May. He has been left out of the squad for the matches in New Zealand and Argentina. While his team-mates arrived in New Zealand […]

21-07-19 18:04
South Africa's Siya Kolisi lines up during the national anthems before the match. Reuters/Andrew Boyers

CAPE TOWN  – Sadly South African Captain Siya Kolisi will not be able to take part in the remaining matches of the 2019 Rugby Championship, due to an injury sustained in May. He has been left out of the squad for the matches in New Zealand and Argentina.

South Africa’s Siya Kolisi lines up during the national anthems before the match. Reuters/Andrew Boyers

While his team-mates arrived in New Zealand today, Kolisi will instead focus on recovering from the knee injury so that he can make it to the Rugby World Cup in September.

The loose-forward – who inspired so many with his rags to riches story, following his rugby dream as a child in a township, onto the field as captain of the national rugby team – is still recovering from the injury sustained in May whilst playing for the Stormers in Super Rugby.

According to Reuters, Kolisi’s priority will be to ensure he’s ready for the Springboks’ opening game against New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup in Japan on 21 September.

The Springboks announced a 36-man tour party for the New Zealand and Argentina games – see below.

The team will camp in New Zealand after their match against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday. They will then fly to Argentina for their last match of this year’s competition in Salta on 10 August.

After the Boks awesome victory against Australia yesterday at Ellis Park in South Africa, loose forward Marco van Staden and utility back Dillyn Leyds have been released back to their franchises.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus already sent 14 players to New Zealand on Thursday, before the Wallabies test, with a further eight leaving on Saturday evening, said Reuters. The team has already reported a pleasant Sunday evening spent in the New Zealand capital with the South African High Commissioner in Wellington.

Reuters said Erasmus will have 22 players in camp for the first training session on Monday, with the remainder will arrive during the week.

South African Rugby Squad:

Forwards (21): Schalk Brits, Marcell Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Franco Mostert, Trevor Nyakane, Marvin Orie, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Duane Vermeulen

Backs (15): Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Warrick Gelant, Elton Jantjies, Herschel Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Frans Steyn

(Reporting by Nick Said/Reuters and Jenni Baxter/SAPeople)

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The Springboks are now in New Zealand