Cape Town – The silence is broken. Rachel Kolisi, ex-wife of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, has finally spoken out publicly for the first time since the couple’s much-publicised divorce announcement.
The joint statement released on 22 October, while citing “much reflection and open conversations” and a mutual desire for “the best path forward,” left many South Africans reeling. The seemingly idyllic union of one of the nation’s most beloved sporting couples had fractured, leaving a nation questioning what went wrong.
Now, Rachel’s own words offer a glimpse into the emotional turmoil she’s been enduring. In a poignant Instagram post, she shared a simple yet powerful message: “This is so hard. I have genuinely been overwhelmed by kindness and love and I’m so grateful. Fully committed to my healing journey. Peace is my portion. ❤️”
The raw honesty of her statement resonates deeply, revealing the pain and challenges she’s facing in the wake of the separation.
The couple’s split wasn’t entirely unexpected, given the recent surfacing of footage from the documentary, Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story. This footage, which premiered on M-Net in February 2023, revealed cracks in the seemingly perfect façade. Rachel candidly discussed the difficulties she faced during their eight-year marriage, highlighting the stark contrast between the public image of Siya and the reality of their private life.
“It’s like there were two other people. It was Siya, and then there was a horrible Siya. I was full on ready for a divorce. I was done, done, done,” she revealed in the documentary.
This confession, coupled with Siya’s own admissions in his biography about struggles with alcohol, pornography, strip clubs, and excessive spending, provides a context for the couple’s ultimate decision to separate.
Siya himself, in a November 2023 interview with Welsh rugby player Dan Biggar, further illuminated the challenges they faced. Speaking from their Paris home, he confessed: “I had to go to marriage counselling because I couldn’t give everything to my wife; because my heart was so hard and I didn’t know how to speak.” This admission underscores the depth of the issues that ultimately led to the breakdown of their marriage.
Their story, however, began much differently. They met at a dinner party in Stellenbosch in 2012, their initial connection eventually blossoming into a relationship and culminating in their wedding in Franschhoek on 13 August 2016. Siya recalls asking Rachel out as a “scary” experience, acknowledging her initial resistance. However, the early promise of their relationship was clearly overshadowed by the challenges that emerged later.
The couple’s journey also involved an intervention from a Christian mentor, Ben Schoeman, in 2019. Schoeman’s blunt assessment, according to Siya’s biography, was: “Siya, you drink a lot, you fool around with women, you go to strip clubs. You post on social media about your faith in Christ, but you’re lying to yourself and everyone else.” This intervention, while seemingly pivotal, ultimately wasn’t enough to save the marriage.
Despite the personal turmoil, Siya Kolisi remains committed to his role as Springbok captain, preparing to lead the team on their end-of-year tour. This unwavering dedication to his national duty reflects his resilience in the face of adversity, mirroring his previous recovery from injury in time for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Social media has been awash with reactions to the divorce, with opinions sharply divided. While some offer support to Rachel, others defend Siya, and many express a mixture of shock and sadness.
