Siya Kolisi in good spirits at Sharks training on Wednesday. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was a big player in Wednesday’s Sharks training session ahead of Saturday’s important United Rugby Championship match against former champions, Munster, in Durban (4pm).
It will be the last URC match for some time for Kolisi and his Springbok World Cup-winning teammates as they head to the northern hemisphere on Sunday to start preparations for next month’s three Bok Tests against Scotland (November 10), England (November 16) and Wales (November 23).
Besides Kolisi, the other Bok tourists in the Sharks team who’re scheduled to face Irish side Munster on Saturday are Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi.
Kolisi was in the news for other reasons late Tuesday and Wednesday after announcing, jointly with his wife Rachel, that the pair were ending their marriage.
South Africans were shocked by the announcement, which in part said: “After much reflection and open conversations, we have mutually decided to end our marriage. This decision comes from a place of love, respect, and understanding that this is the best path forward for both of us.”
Here are pictures of Kolisi and his team-mates in training with the Sharks on Wednesday.
The Sharks go into this weekend’s match after beating defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors, 28-24 in Durban last Saturday to get back on track after a one-from-three result on their recent European tour.
Last week’s Sharks side also included all the available Bok players, who recently featured in the Rugby Championship.
Coach John Plumtree picked 12 Boks in his starting team and a further four on the bench. He is expected to do the same this week, before the Boks go on tour and the URC competition breaks for a month, because of the northern hemisphere Tests in November.
Following the Boks’ return from Europe in late November and the resumption of the URC, the Sharks host the Stormers in Durban on November 30 at 5pm.
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