Siya Kolisi has ruled out the possibility of ending his career in Europe, but the Springbok skipper is open to a stint in Japan.
In a wide-ranging interview on the ‘RugbyPass Offload’ podcast, the 31-year-old touched on his future prospects after helping the world champions defend their title in France in 2023.
“I have thought a lot about it [moving] but I would miss South Africa too much, number one,” said Kolisi, who is currently spearheading the Sharks’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign.
“I know we are a third-world country and have so many struggles, but I still think it is the greatest country in the world.
“There is so much that I love here in South Africa. I now have a young family settling down. I have moved now from Cape Town to Durban so, but in the past I did want to [move].
“I was talking to a club after 2015, I was talking to Toulouse before Cheslin [Kolbe] went, but since then I don’t know. I’m not getting any younger now, so I’m not sure if I would go to Europe.
“If I ever leave I think I would go to Japan. I can’t leave this hard rugby to another hard rugby.”
Asked about the Boks potentially leaving the Rugby Championship and joining the Six Nations, the loose forward said: “Honestly, I really don’t think about that too much because I enjoy playing in the [Rugby] Championship and we have got a long commitment.
“I have only heard that in the news … I do enjoy the battle that we have with New Zealand and I wouldn’t be against anything. I just do what I am told. I go to training and I work and if it is the competition we are playing in, that’s it.
“At the moment, our full focus is with the Championship this year and it’s going to be hard and really quick.”
