Stormers rave about the return of King Kolisi

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi is back at the Stormers, and every part of the club is stronger for it.

Kolisi’s return is a statement about the Stormers ambitions and the club leadership’s investment in experience as much as there is an emphasis on youthful development of players within the province.

Kolisi is a Stormers centurion, having made his professional debut out of Cape Town. He played his first match for the Stormers in six years on Friday night against Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship.

The result did not favour Kolisi or the Stormers, but one defeat on a windy night on an artificial pitch in Edinburgh will never be the measurement of Kolisi. Neither will it be a statement of panic for a team that has the squad depth and potential to win the competition and challenge for the Investec Championship title.

Kolisi, the biggest name in world rugby, remains one of the best loose-forwards in the sport.

But the value of his return extends beyond his playing.

Kolisi has influence and presence and a natural gift to mentor and inspire.

The Stormers have three recent Junior Springbok captains in their system and established loose-forwards. Kolisi adds a dimension to this collective.

Stormers coach John Dobson was emphatic when Kolisi’s return was announced.

“Siya will be able to help develop these players and mentor them in a way that nobody else could, given what he has achieved and what he represents to all South Africans and especially our fans,” said Dobson.

That value was evident before Kolisi pulled on the jersey on Friday night.

After the Springboks Greatest Rivalry series win against the All Blacks, Dobson told Kolisi to return to Cape Town and rest. Kolisi chose instead to travel from Perth, through Dubai and Dublin, and then by bus to Galway in Ireland for the Stormers tournament opener against Connacht.

“The best way to connect to the team is on tour, and I want to connect to this team,” Kolisi told Dobson.

Dobson understood the significance.

“That’s actions, not words,” he said. “He’s just done the best act of bridge-crossing you could possibly do. This guy is special.”

SA under-20 World Championship captain Riley Norton made his Stormers debut in Galway and he raved about the impact of Kolisi, at the Stormers and with the Springboks.

Norton made his Springboks debut against the Barbarians in a non-Test match earlier this season.

“Siya lifts the energy and the mood of a room whenever he walks into it,” Norton told me this week during the Investec Champions Cup launch in Lyon, France. “And he does it with charisma, humility, humour and song.

“He has an ability to calm everyone, encourage young players, like myself, and mentor. He shares so much knowledge and his own experiences, but he does it in a conversational and heartfelt way.”

Then came the line that defines Kolisi’s leadership.

“Here is a back-to-back World Cup-winning captain and he is helping with strapping, carrying the water and ready to serve the team in any capacity if he is not on the field,” said Norton. “As a player, you just want to follow him into battle.”

There is also the business of professional rugby, and Stormers CEO Johan le Roux makes no apology for recognising Kolisi’s commercial power.

“Siya is a national icon who has such a strong connection to our team and our supporters,” said Le Roux.

“Our sponsors are very excited to see players of Siya and Cheslin Kolbe’s calibre back in the Stormers squad. This class of superstars increases the commercial value for our sponsors through the attention they draw from around the world to the Stormers.”