The Springbok wing poured his heart out to the media about his desire to play overseas and the effect this had on his family.
Cheslin Kolbe with his daughter Kyla, and wife Layla after winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe said playing overseas for nine years had helped him get out of his comfort zone, but being away from his family for much of the last three years had taken its toll and was the reason he finally returned to South African shores to play for the Stormers next season.
Kolbe last played for the Cape Town union in February 2017 – nine and a half years ago – before spending the next four years with Toulouse, two with Toulon and then three with Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan.
‘My wife struggled’
His wife, Layla, and their then four-month-old daughter, Kyla, joined him when he initially moved to France, but the couple found the culture shock immense.
“It was tough because we didn’t have a support structure and the luxury of our families just around the corner of where we lived,” he said.
“My wife struggled in that regard. I think the funniest thing, when I look back at it now, was going to a grocery store… and both of us looking at each other and not understanding a single word of it. My wife just burst into tears.
“But we said, listen, if we want to make it, we will have to be open-minded.”
Kolbe also humorously reflected on the rugby front.
“I landed on a Tuesday and played my first game that Saturday. I didn’t know a lot of the players, the structures, the calling or the language.
“The coaches told me just go play and express yourself.”
But Kolbe had sought this challenge because, as a self-proclaimed “quiet person”, he needed to get out of his comfort zone.
Japan a whole other ball game
He said he picked up French in about eight months. But Japanese was much harder, and by then Layla had decided to stay in Cape Town with their three children.
“I’m excited to get back to Cape Town where my professional career started,” the now 32-year-old Kolbe said.
“The decision was simple. My wife and kids were based in Cape Town while I was in Japan.
“It was quite tough being away from them for such a long period of time and distance. I also just felt that the time was right to come back home and look for an opportunity, and to get that from the Stormers again, I am so grateful.”
But with their oldest child now in Grade 3, Kolbe said the family needed more structure and to be closer to their extended family.
Reflecting on Japan, Kolbe said he struggled with the language, but was helped by “three or four” translators who helped the players in the change room.
“Three years over there [Japan] was unique and great, but tougher being away from my wife and kids and missing out on the small moments I’ll never get back,” he said, adding they visited him during school holidays and he visited South Africa for a day or two when he had weekends off.
Career highlights
The Springbok, who now has a little over 50 Tests, said winning two World Cups would always be highlights of his career.
But winning the Top 14 with Toulouse and Challenge Cup with Toulon were also special because the French public treated these with great esteem, holding victory parades similar to the Springboks’.
He added that the toughest players he had come across were Frans Steyn and Julian Savea.
“The hardest player that I’ve been smoked by is Francois Steyn at the Sharks in a Super Rugby game. I never met him before that day and he came up to me, and he had won a World Cup.
“I found it quite weird that he came up and spoke to me, not knowing what he had in store for me in those 80 minutes.
“He was all over me. After the game I think I had two broken ribs just from him smashing me.
“Another player who was tough to come up against, and it wasn’t at Test level, was Julian Savea at the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. At his prime he was up there with the best wingers.”
Cheslin Kolbe Foundation
Kolbe said his wife had been fantastic in driving the work at the Cheslin Kolbe foundation, which uplifts communities through sport, education and addressing social issues, especially with providing shoes for children.
“We started the foundation to put shoes on feet because in my community, and I am sure across South Africa, there are so many kids that are running barefoot.
“Putting a smile on someone’s face is something small but it goes a long way. Because you don’t know what impact that could have on that kid and their future.”
