Cheslin Kolbe

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Cheslin Kolbe
Kolbe playing for South Africa in 2022
Born (1993-10-28) 28 October 1993
Kraaifontein, Cape Province, South Africa
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight75 kg (165 lb; 11 st 11 lb)[1]
SchoolHoërskool Brackenfell
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Notable relativeWayde van Niekerk (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback, Fly-half
Current team Stormers
Youth career
2009–2012 Western Province
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2017 Western Province 43 (65)
2013–2017 Stormers 49 (74)
2017–2021 Toulouse 82 (172)
2021–2023 Toulon 30 (50)
2023–2026 Tokyo Sungoliath 43 (321)
2026– Stormers 0 (0)
Correct as of 8 June 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 South Africa U20 5 (10)
2015–2016 South Africa Sevens 30 (113)
2018– South Africa 51 (131)
Correct as of 8 June 2026
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
Men's rugby sevens
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam competition
Men's rugby union
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place2019 JapanSquad
Gold medal – first place2023 FranceSquad

Cheslin Kolbe (born 28 October 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player who plays primarily as a wing for the Stormers and the South Africa national team. Renowned for his speed, agility, and footwork, he rose from Kraaifontein, Cape Town, to become one of rugby's most influential backs. After representing Western Province and the Stormers, Kolbe starred for the South African sevens team, winning bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, before making his Springboks debut in 2018. He has since played a key role in South Africa's Rugby World Cup (RWC) triumphs in 2019 and 2023, including scoring a famous try in the 2019 final.

At club level, Kolbe won the Currie Cup with Western Province, the Top 14 and European Rugby Champions Cup with Toulouse, and later played for Toulon before joining Tokyo Sungoliath in 2023. Off the field, he supports disadvantaged youth through the Be The Difference Foundation and his own Cheslin Kolbe Foundation.

Early life

Kolbe played for Hoërskool Brackenfell. He represented Western Province at various youth levels, from the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2009 to the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

Club career

Western Province

He made his provincial first class debut in their Vodacom Cup match against Boland Cavaliers.[2] and a month later he was named on the bench for the Stormers for their Super Rugby game against the Sharks.[3]

In October 2014, he was part of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup by beating the Lions 19–16.[4]

He penned a three-year deal to remain at Western Province until 2016.[5]

Toulouse

Kolbe with Toulouse in 2017

Kolbe moved to France to join Top 14 side Toulouse for the 2017–2018 season.[6] Kolbe received a call-up to the South Africa national team for the 2018 Rugby Championship. He made his debut for South Africa against Australia on 8 September, during Round Three of the competition, coming on in the 33rd minute as an injury replacement for Makazole Mapimpi, in a match that South Africa lost 18–23.

In June 2019, Kolbe started for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14 final winning the French Championship. In 2021 Kolbe won both the European Cup and the Top 14 with Toulouse.

Tokyo Sungoliath

In June 2023, Kolbe signed for the Tokyo Sungoliath in the first division of the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO), ahead of the 2023–24 season.[7][8] Kolbe's contract with Toulon was up at the conclusion of the 2022–23 Top 14 season.[7] Although it was reported that the Cape Town-based Stormers had offered Kolbe R11 and R15 million rand deals (for which Kolbe is said to have turned down),[9] Western Province Rugby said it made no formal offer.[10] Kolbe was one of three, alongside former New Zealand captain Sam Cane and Welsh fly-half Gareth Anscombe,[11] high-profile international players in the Sungoliath squad for the 2023–24 season.[12]

Kolbe started in all but one of his 43 games for the team across three seasons (2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26).[13] Although Kolbe never won a title with the team, he was consistently one of the highest scoring players in the competition, finishing with over 20 tries, and over 200 points in his last season; the top scorer.[14]

Throughout 2024, 2025, and 2026, Kolbe was reported to be one of the highest-paid rugby union players in the world,[15][16] the highest paid player in Japan,[16] and the highest-paid South African international.[17]

Stormers

In May 2026, it was confirmed that Kolbe would be returning to the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) ahead of their 2026–27 season.[18][19] This marked his first appearance in South African domestic rugby for nearly ten years.[18][19] Kolbe had been linked with the Stormers, his home team, since his time in the French Top 14. An Afrikaans news source reported in the same month that the Stormers were in talks with other South African international players like Damian de Allende and Eben Etzebeth.[20]

International career

Kolbe made his test debut in 2018 and played an important part in Springboks winning the 2019 Rugby Championship. On 2 November, Kolbe was part of the 2019 World-Cup winning team in Japan, scoring a try late in the second half of the Final against England. Kolbe was again instrumental in the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, starting in all three test matches and the South Africa A match. Kolbe scored the Springboks' only try in the third and deciding test of the tour to propel South Africa to a series win. He was also instrumental to victory in the 2023 World Cup, where he received a yellow card and was sent off for a deliberate knock-on in the last ten minutes of the World Cup final, as South Africa held on to win 12–11 against New Zealand.

/* South Africa Under-67 */

National sevens team

Between 2012 and 2017, he represented the South Africa Sevens team. In 2013, he was included in the squad for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[21] Kolbe was included in a 12-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[22] He was named as a substitute for their first match in Group B of the competition against Spain, with South Africa winning the match 24–0.[23][24]

Honours

Western Province

  • 2014 Currie Cup winner

Toulouse

Toulon

South Africa

South Africa 7's

  • 2016 Olympics Bronze medal

Test Match record

As of 23 November 2025
Against P W D L Tri Pts %Won
 Argentina6600315100
 Australia54010080
British and Irish Lions32011566.67
 England3300315100
 France430111375
 Italy3300323100
 Ireland520321340
 Japan3300210100
 New Zealand1051452750
 Scotland220000100
 Wales54011580
Total49371112112675.51

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries (21)

TryOppositionLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1 New ZealandWellington, New ZealandWestpac Stadium2018 Rugby Championship15 September 2018Win34–36
2 New ZealandPretoria, South AfricaLoftus Versfeld2018 Rugby Championship6 October 2018Loss30–32
3 ArgentinaSalta, ArgentinaEstadio Padre Ernesto Martearena2019 Rugby Championship10 August 2019Win13–46
4 JapanKumagaya, JapanKumagaya Rugby StadiumTest match6 September 2019Win7–41
5
6 ItalyFukuroi, JapanShizuoka Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup4 October 2019Win3–49
7
8 EnglandYokohama, JapanInternational Stadium Yokohama2019 Rugby World Cup Final2 November 2019Win12–32
9 British and Irish LionsCape Town, South AfricaCape Town Stadium2021 British & Irish Lions tour7 August 2021Win19–16
10 WalesPretoria, South AfricaLoftus Versfeld Stadium2022 Wales tour2 July 2022Win32–29
11 ItalyGenoa, ItalyLuigi Ferraris Stadium2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals19 November 2022Win21–63
12 New ZealandAuckland, New ZealandMount Smart Stadium2023 Rugby Championship15 July 2023Loss35–20
13 IrelandSaint-Denis, FranceStade de France2023 Rugby World Cup23 September 2023Loss8–13
14 FranceSaint-Denis, FranceStade de France2023 Rugby World Cup15 October 2023Win28–29
15 IrelandPretoria, South AfricaLoftus Versfeld Stadium2024 Ireland tour of South Africa6 July 2024Win27–20
16 ArgentinaMbombela, South AfricaMbombela Stadium2024 Rugby Championship28 September 2024Win48–7
17 EnglandLondon, EnglandTwickenham Stadium2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals16 November 2024Win20–29
18
19 New ZealandWellington, New ZealandWellington Regional Stadium2025 Rugby Championship13 September 2025Win10–43
20
21 ArgentinaDurban, South AfricaKings Park Stadium2025 Rugby Championship27 September 2025Win67–30

Personal life

Kolbe married Layla Cupido in 2018 and they have three children together.[26][27]

He is a devout Christian.[28][29]

Kolbe is a cousin of famous South African track and field sprinter Wayde van Niekerk,[29] who won the gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2016 Olympics and is the current 400m world record holder.

References

  1. "Cheslin Kolbe player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Regent Boland Cavaliers 17–17 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. "Van Aswegen to start at flyhalf". Stormers. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013., then he took a year out to join moyvalley rugby club
  4. http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/WP-crowned-Currie-Cup-champs-20141025/accessdate=2015-09-14
  5. "New deal for WP's Kolbe". Planet Rugby. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  6. "Communiqué officiel Cheslin Kolbe sera Stadiste en 2017-2018" (Press release) (in French). Stade Toulousain. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  7. Mostert, Herman (8 June 2023). "Bok star Cheslin Kolbe confirms deal with Japanese club". News24.
  8. Wood, Mattheww (8 June 2023). "South Africa international Cheslin Kolbe to join Suntory Sungoliath". talkingrugbyunion.co.uk. Talking Rugby Union.
  9. Sansom, Tom (6 June 2023). ""Mega Deal" – Springboks Star Cheslin Kolbe Heads to Japan after Turning Down Stormers". Ruck.co.uk.
  10. Mostert, Herman (7 June 2023). "WP Rugby says it made no formal offer to Bok star Cheslin Kolbe". News24.
  11. "2023–24 Japan Rugby League One Season Welcomes International Talent". rugbyasia247.com. Rugby Asia 247. 5 November 2023.
  12. "All Blacks captain Sam Cane delighted to join up with Cheslin Kolbe in Japan". SABC Sport. SABC. 29 November 2023.
  13. "Cheslin Kolbe: Stats – All Rugby". All Rugby.
  14. "Stats Ranking | NTT Japan Rugby League One 2025–26 Division 1". league-one.jp. Japan Rugby League One. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  15. Reeves, Rodney (18 May 2024). "The 20 Highest-Paid Rugby Players in the World". Front Office Sports.
  16. Bendon, Philip (22 May 2025). "Highest Paid Rugby Players In 2025: Top 20 List Of Rugby's Biggest Stars". florugby.com. Flo Rugby.
  17. Boyle, Dean (20 February 2026). "Springboks: Top 3 highest-paid overseas-based players". The South African.
  18. Rich, Gavin (25 May 2026). "Returning Home: Cheslin will bring what the Stormers have lacked". SuperSport. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  19. Coombe, Louis Chapman (25 May 2026). "Cheslin Kolbe's first words as sensational Stormers return confirmed". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  20. "Stormers could bring back another Bok". SA Rugby Mag. 31 May 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  21. "Kyle Brown back to command Springbok Sevens for Mission Moscow". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  22. "Rugby Sevens squad for Olympics named". South African Rugby Union. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  23. "Men Schedule & Results – Olympic Rugby Sevens (RSA–ESP)". Rio 2016. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  24. "Olympic Games Men's Sevens, Match 2". World Rugby. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  25. "Kolbe and Roos step up to clinch top SA Rugby Awards". SA Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  26. "Cheslin Kolbe ties the knot on Top Billing". www.topbilling.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  27. Karimi, Cindy (7 July 2023). "Rugby WAGS: Meet Layla Kolbe, Cheslin Kolbe's wife [Pics]". The South African. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  28. "Twee neefs soek goud". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 16 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  29. de Villiers, Ockert (17 July 2016). "Rio a family affair for Wayde, Cheslin". Independent Online. Retrieved 23 September 2019.