Rise

By Megan Thomas

What better time to post about Springbok captain (and World Cup 2019 champion) Siya Kolisi’s memoir than after an historic win at Twickenham against the All Blacks yesterday? I’m on a high still.

Kolisi has written his life story in this inspiring autobiography, sharing his journey from the township of Zwide in the Eastern Cape to leading South Africa in its third World Cup victory, the first black captain in South Africa’s 128 years of rugby.

I’m a keen rugby-watcher, but I was concerned that a whole book about the sport would be too much for me. At times, I was admittedly flagging a little when he really started unpacking game plays and the events of particular tournaments. However, the variation means that he’d shift from the field to his life with ease and all in all, I was totally captivated.

I’m guilty of feeling like I know someone after reading their memoirs (I’m calling them by their first names after a chapter as if we’re childhood besties), but I really do get the impression that Siya (my new best pal) has no time for ego. On the field, this is evident in his communication, his respect for senior players and coaches, his comfort in delegating decision-making, his eagerness to play as a team and never a one-man-band, while always acting as a glue for the team and making hard calls when they’re needed. A real leader. From reading Rise, it seems evident to me that this is true of his private life too.

Private life for Siya includes a loving family and during the pandemic, he co-founded the Kolisi Foundation with his wife Rachel, a charity which supports under-resourced communities in South Africa. It wasn’t always like that and until relatively recently, involved an intense party culture, getting blind drunk, frequenting strip clubs and in many ways, neglecting the family who are so important to him. I was struck by the honesty with which he speaks about this period, and the effort he made to come out stronger.

Not all of life’s obstacles are circumstantial, though those are certainly the ones that seem most unjust – some are self-made from poor decisions or just general selfishness. But Siya’s ability to overcome them is consistent and inspiring.

BUY THE BOOKS: Waterstones | Foyles | Amazon
Disclaimer: I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please get in touch if your preferred online platform is not listed here – I’ll see what I can do!