Fans are buzzing over whether Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi overcame more than just his fear of heights on top of New York's Empire State Building with Rachel John.
Springboks and Stormers flanker Siya Kolisi and his rumoured girlfriend Rachel John take in the views of New York City from atop the Empire State Building. Picures: TikTok and Instagram
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and his rumoured girlfriend, Rachel John, have lit up the social media streets once again – this time with their idyllic “baecation” in the United States.
The 34-year-old rugby icon and the bubbly brunette, who first sparked romance rumours late last year, are currently living it up in New York.
Higher love: Siya Kolisi overcomes fear of heights with Rachel John
While on top of the Empire State Building, Siya posted a hilarious video clip via Instagram in which the powerhouse rugby player tackles his fear of heights to marvel at the breathtaking city panoramas from the iconic NYC landmark.
Watch: Siya’s ‘fear or no fear’ moment
“I don’t know what’s going on, but yeah, the things we do for social media. Anywho, we are here now… Fear or no fear siyanyuka e (we are going up),” the double World Cup winning skipper captioned his post.
‘He said he knew a place’
John also shared TikTok vlogs from the towering skyscraper, as well as footage featuring some of the couple’s other experiences in the Big Apple.
She captioned one clip, “He said he knew a spot” with the “he” referring to Siya Kolisi. Take a look…
@racheljohnie New York❤️ #empirestatebuilding ♬ Home Resonance – xervic
Fans react: ‘She has a ring on her engagement finger’
In one of her posts, eagle-eyed Mzansi “detectives” spotted what looks like a small diamond ring gleaming on the 25-year-old Dutch-Nigerian content creator’s ring finger.
As the engagement speculations took off, comments flooded in, ranging from “she has a ring on her engagement finger” and “I see it too”.
Some even begged John for a full vlog series “from her engagement to her wedding”.
Did Siya Kolisi pop the big question?
The two lovebirds also went to watch the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen featuring music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Alicia Keys.
Siya rubbed shoulders with the 16-time Grammy winner backstage. Keys ended up thanking our Captain Fantastic for the “unforgettable memory” of meeting him on Instagram!
There has been no official word from the duo on the ring rumours, but the timing feels oh-so-romantic – could Siya have popped the question atop one of the world’s most famous spots?
Fans are drawing parallels to his grand 2015 helicopter proposal to ex-wife Rachel Kolisi over Table Mountain, wondering if history is repeating itself with an Empire State twist.
Siya Kolisi and Rachel John’s NBA ‘date night’ weekend
The New York magic follows hot on the heels of their courtside “date night” at the 75th NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles earlier in February.
The couple vibed among the stars, sharing separate but synced posts of the electric atmosphere – Siya gushing on TikTok about his “first NBA All Star experience” leaving him “in awe” and feeling “like umntana” (a kid), while Rachel documented her jet-lagged adventure straight to the game.
Fans dubbed it pure “American Dream” energy, with courtside snaps fuelling even more couple goals chatter.
Siya Kolis and Rachel John: Relationship timeline
The romance timeline kicked off in late 2025 at the ATP Finals in Italy, heated up with Rachel John’s Jeffrey’s Bay birthday celebration, and went “public-ish” during a January 2026 Victoria Falls getaway (despite some shade over it being Siya’s old honeymoon spot).
Not-so-long ‘long-distance’ relationship: Globe-trotting and glowing together
After a very brief “long-distance relationship moment” when Rachel returned to her home in Amsterdam for some kickboxing and other commitments, the US trip screams commitment.
Whether it’s official bling or just a stylish accessory, one thing’s clear: Siya and Rachel are living their best love story, globe-trotting and glowing.
Mzansi’s watching every move – congrats or confirmation incoming?
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