Siya Kolisi ready to fight for his place as Springboks face tough 2026

He may be the Springbok captain, but Siya Kolisi knows there will be no resting on laurels as the world champions brace for a demanding 2026 season in their build-up to next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Kolisi has acknowledged that South Africa’s loose-forward stocks are growing rapidly, with players performing at a high level across the competitions they are currently involved in.

He is fresh off two outstanding weekends of rugby for the Sharks against his future teammates at the Stormers, helping the Durban outfit to back-to-back victories in the coastal derbies during the United Rugby Championship (URC).

It was recently announced that the national skipper will once again trade Kings Park for rugby under Table Mountain, as he prepares for a move back to Cape Town following a couple of successful seasons at the Shark Tank.

With a two-week break for the South African sides in the URC as the Six Nations Championship gets underway, Kolisi said he is pleased to have the time off. After that, however, the hard work will resume at the Sharks, with two more local derbies in Gauteng as he continues to push himself to maintain his No 6 jersey in the national setup.

The Springboks are scheduled to play 13 matches this season, and Kolisi wants to be ready for the challenge. While it is highly unlikely that head coach Rassie Erasmus will use him in every fixture, he is expected to be vital for the season opener in July against a high-flying England at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship.

In August and September, Kolisi should lead the Boks during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the All Blacks — a four-Test series featuring three matches in South Africa and one in the United States.

Kolisi was unveiled as a new ambassador for retail giant Pick n Pay on Thursday and hopes to continue inspiring supporters on and off the field through his work. Currently on holiday in the Mother City, he is eager to recharge with family and friends before returning to the grind.

“Hopefully, this break can help me, and I can rest and get back into it. I want to fight for my position in the Springbok team,” Kolisi said.

“It is becoming tight with the loose forwards, they are all playing well in the country, and I think that is a good thing for the team. No one can become comfortable, or no one can chill. So many guys are having amazing seasons this year, so the competition is always tight. But I will keep on fighting.

“This is a big year for the entire team. This is probably one of the toughest fixture lists that we’ve received. We have everything upfront and (we know) who we are facing. The first three Tests are part of the Nations Championship. Then it is into the Greatest Rivalry, and then the last three overseas games also form part of the competition before a winner is crowned.

“The Championship will be exciting because it gives you something to look forward to this year. I can’t wait for that.”