Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is set to return to the Sharks after French club Racing 92 reportedly announced the termination of his contract.
Kolisi is now free to join the Sharks, who have been trying to buy him out of his contract ever since it was reported he and his family were not happy in France.
French newspaper L'Équipe reported on Sunday that Kolisi, who is currently on duty with the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, will not be returning to Racing 92 for the upcoming season.
Actuellement en Afrique du Sud pour disputer le Rugby Championship, Siya Kolisi ne reviendra pas au Racing 92. Le club a annoncé la résiliation de son contrat, qui courait jusqu'en 2026. Il retourne aux Sharks. https://t.co/PJqPhHAlRw pic.twitter.com/7c6rXRQoAO
— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) September 8, 2024
Kolisi’s stay in France was a brief one. Still in his first year with the club, it was reported a couple of weeks ago that he had asked Racing 92 to be released from his contract early.
His return to South Africa, however, looked uncertain after Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti demanded R17 million to release the Springbok skipper. The Sharks were reportedly willing to make the payment over a period of time, but Lorrenzetti is said to have wanted a full upfront payment.
The deal looked dead until Grey High School Old Boy and America businessman Vincent Mai stepped in and offered to foot the bill to secure the Springbok captain’s return to the Sharks.
Mai is a member of the consortium that owns the Sharks, and was responsible for the bursary that offered Kolisi the opportunity to attend the school.
Kolisi’s family was reported to be unhappy in France, and Lorenzetti’s criticism of the Springbok double-World Cup-winning captain didn’t make things easier.
Siya Kolisi was very clear about what the goal was for the Springboks this week 🙌
They lift the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 🏆#TRC2024 pic.twitter.com/btpGjNp6C0
Lorenzetti in June said after Racing lost to Bordeaux-Begles in their Top-14 play-off match that Kolisi had: “gained weight, lost shape, and was invisible.”
Kolisi will join a star-studded Sharks side that includes the likes of Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka, new Springbok Phepsi Buthelezi, his bestie Eben Etzebeth, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Trevor Nyakane among others.
Kolisi played a starring role as the Springboks sealed a fourth straight win over the All Blacks on Saturday. And on Sunday, the Sharks beat the Bulls 24-18 in a nailbiting Currie Cup game at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
IOL Sport