When Cheslin Kolbe scored a try in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, he proved to the world that he is one of the best wingers in the modern game. Despite his diminutive stature of just 5ft 7in, his speedy side-stepping footwork was instrumental in helping his country to win their third world cup in 2019. Kolbe had also won the France Top 14 and the European Champions Cup while playing for French club Toulouse.
Born on 28 October 1993 in Kraaifontein, Kolbe grew up in a dangerous suburb of Cape Town. There was a time when he had to sprint away after after being caught up in a firefight between two gangs.
Kolbe's father, Andrew was a rugby player too. He was a good inside-centre for Hands and Heart RFC, a club in Cape Town. However, during the apartheid system in South Africa, Andrew could not turn profesional.
As a teenager, Kolbe was also good in athletics. He was a national level hurdler until he gave-up athletics to focus on rugby. The current men’s 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk is Kolbe's cousin. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, van Niekerk won gold on the track, while Kolbe bagged bronze in Rugby Sevens.
Kolbe played for the South African sevens team, the Blitzbokke, for five years between 2012 and 2017. He was constantly being overlooked by the Springboks for the reason of not big enough to make it at international level. After finishing his sevens career, he left Stormers to join Toulouse.
However, Kolbe had a brilliant start of his career in France. He had the freedom to play his natural game. And he scored six tries in his first eight games. His coach described him as someone who "fills the stadiums".
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Kolbe made his Test debut for the national team in 2018 under Rassie Erasmus. In September 2018, South Africa stunned New Zealand with a 36-34 win in Wellington. Kolbe came-off the bench and score his first international try in 15's. He can also play fly-half and full-back, being utilised at stand-off multiple times in the 2020-21 season by Toulouse.
Kolbe is actively involved in welfare and social services too. He worked with the Be The Difference Foundation to tackle poverty in the Western Cape. The organisation also fed 400 people a week during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in South Africa.
Kolbe is married to Layla Cupido since 2018. The pair has two children. They are currently living in France. Kolbe had recently completed a sensational move from Toulouse to Toulon.
By: Fadzil Hisham | Photo: Azley Kassim
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