2024 SA Rugby Player of the Year Cheslin Kolbe is a champion in every sense

Cheslin Kolbe was honored as the SA Rugby Men's Player of the Year for 2024, becoming the first backline player since 2013 to receive this accolade. His exceptional performances were instrumental in the Springboks' successful season, which included 11 victories in 13 Tests and the recapture of both the Rugby Championship and Freedom Cup titles. Kolbe's electrifying pace and skill on the field underscored his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in world rugby.

Widely regarded as one of the standout rugby players of his generation, Cheslin Kolbe has made a name for himself through his remarkable speed, agility and ability to outmanoeuvre defenders despite his smaller stature. Standing at 1.70m, Cheslin has consistently defied expectations in a sport known for its physicality, using his exceptional footwork and low centre of gravity to make explosive runs and evade tackles with ease.

His rugby journey began in the Western Province team, where he honed his skills in the Currie Cup and represented the Stormers in Super Rugby. His talent soon caught the attention of international scouts and, in 2017, he made the leap to Europe, joining French powerhouse club Toulouse. His impact on the Top 14 league was immediate, as he became a key player in helping Toulouse claim domestic and European titles.

In 2019, Cheslin’s career reached new heights when he played an instrumental role in South Africa’s World Cup triumph in Japan. His standout moment came in the final, where

he scored a memorable try against England, sealing the Springboks’ victory and cementing his place as one of the world’s best. His love and understanding of the game came from his father, who was also a rugby player.

“I was around five or six years old when I first understood what rugby was all about. I grew up in a sports-crazed family, and my father played rugby for Western Province and SARU during the Apartheid era. I would often follow my dad to his training sessions in the week and watch him play on weekends, which fueled my interest in the sport.”

As Cheslin progressed through primary school, he faced scepticism about his size. “I’ve faced it since I was young but I was determined because I knew exactly what I wanted: to become a professional rugby player. It wasn’t easy, especially when people kept telling me I was too small or too light, and that I wouldn’t be selected for provincial teams. I played many trials and never made it until the final round.

I only made my Western Province Provincial debut at Under 16 in 2009. Those years were tough, filled with negativity from coaches, players and selectors who suggested I either change my position from flyhalf or return to scrumhalf. But I kept believing in myself. My dad always reminded me to work hard — in the gym, running, or on the training field — and hope for the best.”

“I had to prove myself, especially when I made my provincial professional debut. If I missed a tackle, or even if one of the forwards missed a tackle, people would focus on me because I was the smaller athlete trying to make it. They’d overlook the fact that bigger players missed too, but they’d jump on me, the one they said would never make it,” he says.

Cheslin’s humility and determination have earned him widespread respect. He frequently speaks about the challenges he’s faced, particularly in overcoming doubts related to his size, and uses his platform to inspire young players to persevere. “Things started to change when I went to France in 2017 and then made my Springboks debut in 2018. I noticed a real shift after we won the 2019 World Cup.

People stopped fixating on my size, and I turned it into something positive. I proved that smaller players can perform at the highest level, and it’s about how you play the game and your physical contribution. I think it opened the door for other smaller players to pursue professional rugby.”

When asked if he remembers putting on his first Springbok jersey, he says absolutely. “I still have that jersey, and I haven’t washed it because it’s so special to me. It symbolises all the sweat and tears, and the challenges I had to overcome. It’s something I’ll always treasure and brag about. Growing up, that was the dream — wearing the green and gold jersey was all I ever thought about. I never imagined it would happen so quickly for me. Getting that opportunity in 2018 was truly a childhood dream come true. As a kid, you watch your heroes play, and you want to grow up to be just like them and represent your country at the highest level.”

He lists his dad and player Gio Aplon as two of his sporting heroes. His father, who played a more physical game due to his larger size, was a constant source of support and inspiration throughout his rugby journey. Despite their different styles, his dad has always been a key role model. Gio Aplon, whom he admired from a young age while watching him play for Western Province, became another significant influence. “I got the opportunity to play with him for a year or two with the Stormers,” Cheslin says. “He’s been there for me, guiding me on what to expect and always following up on how I played — what I did right and what I could have done differently. Up until today, even though he’s retired, he still messages me before games to wish me all the best and checks in afterwards,” says Cheslin.

When asked about the best opportunities that being a professional athlete has afforded him, Cheslin highlights the chance to travel. “I definitely wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t play rugby. It has given me the opportunity to travel to different countries and experience different cultures. One that stands out for me is making the move to France, where I was based for six years. I learned quite a lot and developed as a rugby player and off the field. There was a big culture shock when my wife and I first moved. For the first two or three months, I wanted to come home. But we went there with an open mind because we’d gotten this opportunity, and we wanted to embrace it and learn along the way. I initially signed for only three years and then stayed six years. My time in France was definitely a success on and off the field.”

However, that’s not to say that travelling doesn’t have its drawbacks. “The language was the most challenging part. The beginning stages were tough, but the more we got used to it, the more comfortable we became, and the more people we met who showed us the way.”

Comparing the rugby fandom between France and South Africa he says that it’s two different crowds, but similar in their passion for the sport. “The French love their rugby — the support and atmosphere was unbelievable from a club point of view, but I will say that South African fans are on another level.”

As the Springboks are so beloved by the nation, he does agree that there is a lot of expectation and pressure attached to playing for your country, especially during losses. “Losing is never a good feeling, we know what it does to the country. After the weekend, the Mondays are not the same. People go to work, and the energy is just not there in comparison to a Monday after a win,” he says.

“Yes, there are a lot of expectations of the team, but we always talk about how pressure as a rugby player is nothing compared to the real hardships that many South Africans go through — people losing their jobs, not having food to eat, not having an income, not being able to look after their families. That is pressure; that is tough because you don’t know if there’s going to be an outcome or a next day,” he says.

“That definitely is a lot more pressure than what we feel going onto the field, so we are realistic in our disappointment as there will always be another opportunity to win and we get to do something we all love, and we’re blessed with it. All we can do is continue to perform and give hope back to South Africa because there are people out there in way worse positions than us.”

He adds that as the Springboks once again hold the title of the No.1 rugby team in the world, there is a shift in attitude from their opponents. “We’ve been there as well, as a Springbok team in 2016/2017, when we were demolished by other teams with record scores. All you want to do is target the number one team in the world and go after them because that’s where you want to be.

"Obviously, we’ve got that target on our back now, where teams are going to want to come after us and outplay us on the field. That’s something we are aware of, but we don’t put a lot of focus on it. We know teams are going to come at us, but we need to go more than what they are bringing. The preparations and speeches from the coaches give us so much confidence going into matches. We definitely have a good environment and a strong culture within the team, with players who are there for the right reasons and not for egos.”

Speaking on the challenges of balancing the demands of being a professional athlete and family, he admits that it’s tough and that he has a lot of respect for the partners of all athletes taking care of their families and households. “We are always travelling and away from home, and it’s tough. I have three kids and when I’m away my wife has to play both roles and take care of everything. It’s super tiring. That’s why I’m very strict about being present when we have time off or when the season is done. Whatever free time I get, my family is who I spend it with.”

But how does he stay clear of mind and not let the effects of a match affect his home life? “From a mental point of view, you have to try and switch off your brain and forget about the stresses you may have on the field. It’s not easy — when you have a loss or injuries, there can be frustrations that make it hard not to be negative at home, but what helps is having someone that you can talk to and a strong support system. My wife has been unbelievable with everything she’s been doing.”

Cheslin emphasises the importance of communication among athletes, not just when playing a match. “For athletes, it’s a big concern that players tend to keep everything to themselves. They don’t want to open up about their challenges. I feel the more honest and open they can be, the better their mental health state will be. Keeping it all in just builds up, and somehow you’re going to explode.”

“They have to find someone they’re comfortable with to speak to—whether it’s their partner, parents, friends, or a specialist. I’d encourage them to be open about these things because it can have a massive effect in the long run,” he adds.

“As a professional athlete, you need to stay on top of it at all times, but there are definitely times you can switch off for a mental refresh,” he continues. “Your body needs to relax and recover before getting back on track with training. But now, because there is so much rugby, your off-season becomes like another in-season. You keep maintaining and building to avoid injuries throughout the season.”

He says that he’s definitely started placing more emphasis on mental health awareness since becoming a husband and father. “Before being a dad, I wasn’t married or anything — I didn’t have any responsibilities. But after I had my first daughter it was like life wasn’t about me anymore. It was about my kids and wanting to make sure that I am in the best state to look after and provide for them.”

Making an impact

For Cheslin, his passions lie in the meaningful impact he’s striving to make beyond rugby. “I always tell people that, yes, rugby has gotten me to where I am today, but there is life after rugby. I don’t just want to be remembered as a rugby player, but also as a good person.”

It’s this goal that led to the creation of The Cheslin Kolbe Foundation, a philanthropic initiative with a mission to empower young people. The foundation focuses on education, sports development, and community upliftment. It provides resources and scholarships to support students in pursuing their education, recognising the importance of academic achievement alongside sports.

Additionally, the foundation promotes sports among the youth by offering training and mentorship programs that develop athletic skills while fostering teamwork and discipline. Engaging with various community projects, the foundation strives to improve the quality of life for underprivileged individuals and encourages a healthy lifestyle through sports.

“The Foundation started by putting shoes on feet. In 2018 I saw a young kid playing in the street and kicking a ball without shoes on. Kicking a hard ball barefoot is not the nicest feeling, but if you kicked the concrete with no shoes, it would be really painful. And I thought, ‘Why don’t we start a foundation to put shoes on feet?’ That’s what we were doing, then Covid happened and the needs shifted dramatically, which added to the foundation adding more initiatives, one such being the 911 project,” he says.

“911 is obviously the emergency call number that everybody knows and that’s what we use as a disaster calling. So, for example, during winter homes got flooded, and the need for [families affected] was warm blankets, accommodation food etc.”

Cheslin emphasises the intent behind his foundation, stating, “The name itself is not because we wanted it; the other options we considered were all taken. I always say it’s not named that because my wife and I want recognition, we’re doing this to make a difference in South Africa. If people have ideas for community outreach projects but lack a platform, they can reach out to us, and we’ll try to assist in bringing those ideas to life.”

“With the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation, it’s all about the community and giving the youth and those less-fortunate communities a platform to achieve their goals. I aim to encourage and inspire them to never give up and to keep putting in the hard work. It is based in Cape Town, but we don’t just do work there. We’ll operate wherever the need arises. Of course, we focus on the areas we come from, but through that, we can keep moving, developing, and reaching out to more communities.”

On how it feels to have kids look up to him and to be viewed as a type of larger-than-life figure, he says that it really is quite meaningful. I think back to when I was a young kid looking up to someone who seemed to have it all: a beautiful family, a nice car, doing well. Now, I find myself in this position where many young kids look up to me. The way I live and conduct myself needs to reflect who I genuinely am, not a false image. By leading by example, both on and off the field, I hope to inspire another young kid to become the next Cheslin or the next Siya Kolisi.”

He also touches on the importance of representation in communities. “It’s true that in Coloured communities, many kids grow up with just their mothers. They need a father figure to lead by example and instill good values and responsibilities from a young age. Many kids in these communities lack that support and face negative influences like alcohol and drug abuse, which sadly break families apart. We want to give hope to children from these backgrounds who are experiencing these challenges, showing them that there are other options and that they can excel in sports and achieve their dreams.”

By sharing his own journey and experiences, Cheslin aims to inspire young people to pursue their dreams, emphasising hard work, dedication and resilience.

^{This story has been adapted for online, from GQ's November 2024 issue, where he appeared in collaboration with Nescafe SA.}