By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi will return to the Stormers in 2026, the Cape Town-based franchise announced.
Kolisi has agreed to rejoin the Stormers at the end of the current Vodacom URC season.
Kolisi, who began his professional career with the Stormers before moving on to the Sharks and French club Racing 92, had been eager to return to Cape Town earlier to be closer to his children following his divorce from his wife, Rachel.
The Sharks, who paid a R17-million fee to release Kolisi from Racing, were reluctant to lose such a marquee signing.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux said that he is delighted to welcome Kolisi back.
“Siya is a national icon who has such a strong connection to our team and our supporters. He is also a family man who wants to be there for his children as much as possible.
“These are values that resonate with our club and given the significance of our heritage in defining where we want to go, we are very happy to welcome Siya back to hopefully see out his career in the jersey he wore when it started.
Kolisi said that returning to Cape Town is a significant moment for him and his family.
“I have such incredible memories of my time at the DHL Stormers, the way I was embraced by the fans in my formative years has never left me.
“My family is in Cape Town and it is important to me to be close to them. This move gives me the chance to do that while also giving back to the team and fans who made such a big contribution to the player and person I am today.
“I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can to the future success and happiness of this special club and its incredible supporters,” he said.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that Kolisi will add value to the squad in ways that no other player could.
“We have got an outstanding crop of loose forwards in our squad and a number of very strong young leaders, with the last three Junior Springbok captains all on our books.
“Siya will be able to help develop these players and mentor them in a way that nobody else could, given what he has achieved and what he represents to all South Africans and especially our fans.
“We are very aware of the load that he has carried professionally and personally over the last few years, but what is so encouraging is the way that he has bought into helping us reach the goals we have set for ourselves in developing our squad as we build towards Project 2029,” he said.
Kolisi will play alongside Springboks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the star of the South Africa test season.