South Africa: Siya Kolisi's plans for life after rugby

David Beckam had advised Siya Kolisi to plan his life after sport at least eight years before retiring. And the two-time world champion is following that advice to the letter, as he has a very clear idea of what he wants to do after his career. For now, though, the 32-year-old is focused on his new club, Racing 92. "I signed for three seasons (at Racing), so we'll see how it goes. I still want to play for another five years if the body is still good", Kolisi said on the Behind the Ruck podcast with former  Springboks Juan de Jongh and Rudy Paige.

Siya Kolisi then listed his priorities after his playing career. He explained: "Then I'll come back home, and I want to work for the foundation, that's number one, the most important thing. The foundation is mine and Rachel's (his wife), the Kolisi Foundation. We started after the 2019 World Cup. During Covid, we started with food donations and PPE, because public hospitals and clinics were the last to get any. We bought them PPE, sanitisers, gloves and everything they needed so they could help people."

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Siya Kolisi is known for his mental strength, an attitude that stems from his childhood. The South African grew up in the slums, and he will never forget where he comes from. After retiring from rugby, Siya Kolisi intends to do more social work and help his community. "People say folks are lazy in the townships, but I grew up in a place where my uncles, my father, my grandfather, they woke up at four in the morning and went to stand by the side of the motorway to wait for someone to pick them up so they could mow their lawn or do any kind of work. Hard work and resilience, all of that comes from there, and also from not complaining when you don't have things and from using what you have around you. That's who we are as South Africans."