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United Rugby Championship

Question mark hangs over Springboks captain Siya Kolisi

Josh Raisey

46 days ago

Siya Kolisi of the Hollywoodbets Sharks during the Investec Champions Cup match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and Saracens at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium on December 13, 2025 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)

Sharks head coach JP Pietersen has been unable to confirm how long he will be without South Africa captain Siya Kolisi after he picked up a calf injury last week.

The flanker was due to make his 50th Sharks appearance last week, having been named to start against Munster in the United Rugby Championship. However, he was forced to withdraw from the matchday squad with a calf injury as his side recorded a 45-0 victory at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium.

With Cardiff visiting on Friday, Pietersen has confirmed that Kolisi, who is set to rejoin the Stormers at the end of the season, will still be absent, and was unable to give a timeline as to when Sharks fans can see him back on the field.

VIDEO

“He’s got a calf problem,” Pietersen said. “He won’t be ready for next week, but we’ll see how it goes week by week.

“He feels good, but then some days he doesn’t feel so good. I don’t know what kind of calf injury it is, but we’ll look at it week by week and see how it goes.”

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Sharks

21 - 15

Full-time

Cardiff Rugby

All Stats and Data

This casts Kolisi’s participation in the Challenge Cup round of 16 tie with Connacht the following week into doubt, as the Durban outfit look to reclaim the title they won two seasons ago.

Pietersen will be boosted by the return of Eben Etzebeth for that match, with the lock serving the final week of his 12-week ban for gouging this weekend.

Sharks XV: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Bradley Davids, 1 Phatu Ganyane, 2 Fez Mbatha, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 4 Jason Jenkins, 5 Emile van Heerden, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Nick Hatton

Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Jaden Hendrikse / Ross Braude, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Le Roux Malan

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Comments

34 Comments

Hammer Head 45 days ago

I for one am happy Siya and others are getting lots of rest.

The more rest the better!

When the great All Blacks protected Dan Carter and Richie Maccaws bodies - it was genius!

And when the French send B/C/D teams to New Zealand to protect their players - that’s good too.

Rugby is a meat grinder. And players are humans grinding their meats whilst making money for wealthy club owners.

And for our personal enjoyment.

Are we not entertained!?

John Breslin 44 days ago

Rehabbing an injury isn't rest. At all. They won't be sitting on the sofa playing Xbox

Both McCaw and Carter worked on their conditioning while having their game time managed. Carter in particular was down to 91 kilos for the 2015 RWC -his lightest weight as a pro

The French July touring teams have fringe players from many Top14 clubs. As capped test players, their clubs are permitted exemptions to spend around their leagues salary cap. It's smart business and understandable

Life is a meat grinder and most of us are simply making money for others and funding illegal wars with our taxes

It's still hugely enjoyable

SB 45 days ago

Barely played less than 300 minutes since the end of the Springbok season. You can tell why he failed in France, these guys can’t bring it on a consistent basis week in week out like the top French players do.

Hammer Head 45 days ago

But they can bring it on a consistent basis week in week out in National colors like the top French players can’t.

John Breslin 45 days ago

Why do many of these guys rarely play club rugby?

Are they on strike?

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Maybe it’s about the heavy load that lies ahead you were banging on about the other day?

nn 45 days ago

Sorry I'm carrying on about this point… and again, I'm a huge fan when Siya and Eben are wearing a Bok jersey… but you only need to look at their track record whilst they were playing for their respective European clubs and the manner in which they were shown the door… which has continued with the Sharks…. They don't fit… culturally or as a part of the team…. I would have no issue with Eben going back to Cape Town as well…. Strange how Bongi and Vincent both fit…

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Besides “going back to Cape Town” what is your actual suggestion here? To the management and financiers of the sharks specifically? Do these players transfer themselves to clubs?

Sh|t happens. At least Siya isn’t crowding out up and coming players (like Phepsi) and the sharks aren’t selfishly risking injuring the springbok captain - unless you’re suggesting he’s feigning injury? And everyone’s in on it?

As you’ve correctly suggested, some fit and some don’t. And the sharks are still far from sorting out their own coaching woes. It’s not as if the sharks have been exquisitely run over the past 12 - 18 months.

Perhaps the clubs and their rich owners are part of the problem? Did you notice Owen Farrell’s departure from Racing?

If Siya leaves for Cape Town immediately or never plays for the sharks agains - what difference does it actually make?

Stop whining.

nn 45 days ago

Feels good then doesn’t feel good… don’t know what kind of calf injury he has? What BS!! I don’t think he is committed to the Sharks anymore and these excuses look to me like he is pushing for the Sharks to let him go back to Cape Town…. I say… let him go and let’s build in what we have… Pepsi, Tzhituka, Hutton and so on… all good Sharks.. He’s a great Bok… but not a great Shark

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Yeah I prefer him a great Bok. Couldn’t care less if he’s a great shark.

Hammer Head 45 days ago

It’s already confirmed, he’s going back to the Stormers in July

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