South Africans torn as Siya Kolisi leads Boks in Ireland showdown while rumours swirl about new romance

As the whistle blows to kick off the ever-anticipated challenge between Ireland and the Springboks, all fans eyes will be on the field.

But for some of us, we will be looking to see if Second Rachel (Rachel John) - the alleged new woman in the life of Springbok Captain, Siya Kolisi, is in the stands. 

South Africans who have taken Rachel Kolisi under their wing, since the divorce, have mixed feelings about John. One fan - @️ RSB Gem Jewels  - said on John's TikTok of her doing her make up in a hotel yesterday: ️"bitter sweet feeling here....from a South African and Big Sprinbok supporter....really dont know how to feel."

Meanwhile, speculation is swirling online after reports emerged that Rachel Kolisi has unfollowed fellow Springbok WAG, Saskia Snyman, on Instagram recently. The pair previously followed one another and frequently interacted on the platform. Rachel was known to like Saskia’s posts, while Saskia often left supportive comments on Rachel’s content. Rumours are swiring that it has to do with the alleged new woman in Siya's life.

Kolisi’s love life has become the topic of much speculation after he was recently spotted with a new companion, also named Rachel (John), during an Italian tennis final.

John and Siya Kolisi were spotted courtside during a tennis match at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy recently, sitting together with Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman and Snyman’s wife, Saskia. In a now viral video, John - a 24-year-old Dutch content creator - leans in as she chats to the rugby star. Adding to the speculation, another clip shows them dancing along for the camera. Since neither Kolisi nor John has addressed the dating rumours.

Meantime yesterday Rachel i posted a video on TikTok called Falling Forward which got almost a million views with fans rallying behind her.@Whitjac said: "Healing doesn't have to be Silent... Thank you for being vulnerable with us".

Kolisi, who announced his divorce from his ex-wife Rachel in October 2024, has been linked with several women but rumours have not been persistent until John, a 24-year-old Dutch model and influencer, entered the scene.

John is a competitive kickboxer and an avid surfer. With a social media presence - built largely following through her wellness, travel and fitness content - she has over a million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

She grew up in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father. Her growing presence in Mzansi started in 2021 when she left her home country for South Africa for a change. 

This came after she attempted to deal with her ADHD through therapy, medication and just about everything that would help her get better until she developed an eating disorder and fell into depression.

According to reports, she also shares a surprising number of connections with the Springbok circle. Several players and their partners follow her on Instagram, including Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Marise Pollard and Domenica de Allende. 

The creator now splits her time between Amsterdam and South Africa, often describing Mzansi as the place where she feels most grounded. Her content focuses on wellness and discipline, from recovery tips to surf videos, healthy meals and her training routines.