[12] At the age of 12, he impressed scouts at a youth tournament in Mossel Bay and was offered a scholarship at Grey Junior in Port Elizabeth.

He was subsequently offered a rugby scholarship to Grey High School, which South African cricketer Graeme Pollock and England International Mike Catt had attended.

[16] Kolisi returned with a bang the following year and held his place in the Stormers side despite fierce competition among the loose forwards.

[20] Kolisi rejoined the Sharks, his contract with Racing 92 was due to run out in 2026 but the French club agreed to terminate it early after only one season.

[9][27] The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa was already on the cards for following the success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

However the global impact of Covid-19 and the imposed lock-downs, made it impossible for fans to attend the games at the various stadia in South Africa.

Siya Kolisi as captain, led his team, who seemed unfazed by the lost year and emulated the previous 2007 Rugby World Cup winning side by beating the Lions two matches to one in series.

And just like in 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, the final kick to clinch the series was another long range penalty by the ice-cool Morne Steyn, who with Frans Steyn (who was in the squad but didn't play) have now won an unprecedented second Lions tour on home soil.

Kolisi accredited the campaign outcome to the team and the coaches for the super work done and thanks the departing Jacques Nienaber in a powerful three minute speech that left he world agog.

A feat that Richie McCaw couldn't achieve with Kieran Read leading the All Blacks in the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand which ended up being tied.

Rachel, one year older than Siya, is from Grahamstown and worked in event management before taking on duties as a full-time mother.

[38][39] On 22 October 2024, Kolisi and his wife issued a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram to announce their decision to end their marriage.

[42] Kolisi, with his friend, cricketer Faf du Plessis, donated food parcels to the community street feeding scheme in Bonteheuwel during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

[43] In July 2020, Kolisi was named a UN Global Advocate for the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.