Siya to join Racing from Sharks

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The Sharks have confirmed that Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi will join French Top 14 club Racing 92 after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Kolisi, who joined the Sharks in 2021, has been granted an early release from his contract, the Sharks announced in a statement on Tuesday.

The Bok captain has quickly become an integral member of the Durban team, and was recently appointed as captain for the Champions Cup.

Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee said the union looked forward to Kolisi’s continued contributions for the remainder of the 2022-23 season before wishing him well in the next phase of his career.

“Siya has been an instrumental and much-loved member of the Sharks family since his arrival two years ago. His well-documented and commendable leadership qualities extends far beyond the playing field and this is none more so evident than his involvement with the launch of the Players First programme, as well as his commitment in the expansion of the Sharks brand to a global market,” Coetzee said.

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“His move to France is a new and exciting opportunity and we could not be happier for him. We are blessed to have him don the black and white jersey and we know that over the next few months, he will continue to give back to the team and our fans.”

This multi-year signing is part of a broader long-term collaboration between the Sharks and Racing 92, with the two clubs having come to an amicable agreement, while they also look forward to continuing to build a mutually beneficial relationship in the future.

Kolisi thanked the team for enabling him to take up this new challenge.

“It has been an incredible collaborative effort between The Sharks and Racing 92 that has enabled me to start a new chapter in my career after the 2023 World Cup. I want to give a massive thanks to the Sharks for welcoming me with open arms in 2021, and for making me feel so at home in Durban, while their support over the last couple of years has been hugely influential during a key period in my career,” he added.

“I am immensely appreciative that the Sharks have given me their blessing to make this move, and it goes without saying that I will continue to give my all for the team over the next few months.”

Photo: Luca Sighniolfi/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

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Devin Hermanus