Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe has won two Rugby World Cups while proving his critics wrong, but he also wants to be remembered for making an impact off the field.
It’s a hot summer’s day in Cape Town. The moment Cheslin Kolbe enters, the studio hall is filled with an electrifying energy that can only be sparked by the presence of a superstar. However, after being met with a smile and a friendly handshake, it soon becomes evident that this is one of the most humble, down-to-earth ‘okes’ you will ever meet…
Setting the standard
Cheslin made his Springbok debut in 2018 after moving from the Stormers to French club giants Toulouse and has since become the world’s best winger. He scored a famous try in the Boks’ 2019 World Cup final victory against England in Japan, and had crossed the try line 18 times in 40 Test matches by the end of 2024. The double World Cup winner has twice been nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year, in 2019 and 2024, and considered unlucky not to win it at least once.
Cheslin comes from a sporting family, with his dad having played for local rugby club Hands & Heart as an inside centre, and his cousin Wayde van Niekerk famously winning the 400m gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in a world record time.
“I never thought that something like this would ever happen to me,” Cheslin says humbly when I congratulate him on becoming a back-to-back world champion. “Winning one World Cup is massive, so doing it twice in a row? I don’t think words can describe it.
“A lot of sacrifice, hard work and emotion went into it. We wanted to fly the South African flag high and bring gold back to South Africa. We knew what it would mean to the country if we could pull it through.
“Yes, at times people outside [the squad] doubted whether we could go all the way, but the belief within the group, and the buy-in from all the players and management, was immense. And that’s all you need at the end of the day – everybody aligned and working together towards a common goal. We did that to the best of our ability. We le� everything out on the field, no regrets.”
Taking the leap
At 31, Cheslin has achieved more than he ever set out to do. Having joined Japanese club Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath after the 2023 World Cup, he is enjoying a new experience with wife Layla and their three beautiful children.
“I look back at those six years in France and realise how much I grew as a person,” he says. “I’m naturally quiet and shy, and that’s because of where I come from [Kraaifontein] and because for a long time I felt that I wasn’t good enough to be in this elite environment. I was constantly thinking that I might be exposed if I said too much. So getting the chance to grow and develop those people skills – it’s something I can’t put a price on.
“Now I’m in Japan, where I’ve experienced another big change in terms of the culture and language – but again, you have to accept that challenge and know that you’ll come out the other side as a better person and player.”
A heart of gold
Cheslin and Layla have been together since 2013, and the ‘pocket rocket’ insists he couldn’t have achieved what he has without her by his side during what has been a whirlwind journey.
“If it wasn’t for her keeping us all together [as a family], things would have probably been different. She’s always been there for me and I’m so thankful for having a partner like her.
“Yes, there are times when things become tough for us, but we’re both patient, which is quite important. Layla sacrificed so much by leaving her profession to follow me and support my dream, which speaks so much to who she is as a person and what she believes in. It’s not easy for her to look after our three kids abroad, while I’m training, playing games or travelling. I don’t know how she does it, and I have so much respect and appreciation for her.”
After the 2023 World Cup, Cheslin and Layla (with the support of renowned agency Roc Nation Sports International) launched the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation – a philanthropic endeavour to uplift local communities in South Africa in any way possible, whether it be by putting shoes on a child’s feet or facilitating feeding schemes.
“One day, when Layla and I visited my parents in Kraaifontein, we stopped in front of the house and saw a kid with a rugby ball using sand as a kicking tee and the gates of the driveway as the rugby posts,” Cheslin recalls. “I told Layla that that was me when I was growing up, and that’s where everything started with the Kolbe Foundation. We’re fortunate enough to be where we are in life, and it’s important for us to use our platform and the resources around us to go out and give back… Just like one point makes a huge impact in a game [the Springboks won all three of their 2023 World Cup play-off matches by a point], it takes one gesture to make a difference in someone’s life. If we can make a difference in just one person’s life, our hearts will be happy.”
Energy is everything!
The small things count for ‘King Kolbe’. When he’s not training or besting defenders with blistering speed or a side-step, he’s with friends and family
in what he calls his “safe place”. “Family is everything to me. Spending time with them and friends who I regard as family, is a big part of who I am. Then, there’s the side of me that loves cars,” he adds with a laugh. “I love going on a nice drive where I can just be myself and let loose. It brings me peace and joy. That’s how I give myself a timeout.” When it comes to Cheslin’s legacy, he hopes to be remembered not just for rugby, but as a people’s person who wanted to see others succeed in life, reach their goals and prove their doubters wrong – just like he did.
“When you’re in the public eye, there will always be critics and people who want to see you fail. People often told me I wouldn’t be able to become a professional rugby player because I’m not the biggest guy on the field,” says Cheslin, who weighs just 77kg and stands 1.71m tall.
“But you know what? For me, it was all about having a strong belief in myself. I always go back to words that were drilled into me by my dad: ‘No matter what other people think or say about you, if you want to achieve your goals and are willing to make sacrifices and put in the hard work, anything is possible.’ It all depends on you as an individual.”
Cheslin also has some parting advice. “Don’t look at the negative as something that can break you down. Whatever the circumstances, turn the negative into positive energy that will encourage you to do better and prove people wrong. It’s not about what anyone else says, it’s about what you believe in. The mind is a powerful thing, and once you stick to this kind of positive mindset, you’ll be able to look back and be proud of yourself for breaking down so many barriers.”
Words: Charndré Emma Kippie
Stylist: Mia-Tess Smith
Photographs: Zhann Solomons
