BY NOXOLO SIBIYA
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and his wife, Rachel, on Tuesday announced they would be parting ways.
In a joint statement released on Instagram, the couple said they had mutually decided to end their marriage after much reflection.
“This decision comes from a place of love, respect and understanding that this is the best path forward for both of us. While our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain great friends and committed partners in raising our children with the same love and care they’ve always known.”
They vowed to continue working together on the Kolisi Foundation and thanked their supporters.
“We are grateful for the love, understanding and support you’ve shown us, and we kindly ask for your respect as we navigate this transition. With gratitude and love, Siya and Rachel,” the statement read.
The two first met in May 2012 at a dinner party after a rugby match at Newlands stadium.
They have since had two children, and adopted Kolisi’s younger sister and brother after his mother died.
They got married in a glamorous wedding amid vineyards and oak trees at Molenvliet Wine estate, near Stellenbosch, on 13 August, 2016
Those in attendance included fellow rugby star Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and his wife, Kuziva Makore.
A few months after the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the family relocated to Paris in January, after Kolisi signed with Top 14 side Racing 92.
But Kolisi and his family soon returned home after he cancelled his contract, going back to his former team, the Sharks, in September.
He said one of the major reasons for returning was his desire to play in a fourth World Cup tournament in 2027.
SOURCE: NEWS24