Siya Kolisi's heart-warming gesture: young fan receives captain's shorts

Siya Kolisi has once again shown why he is loved both on and off the field. After the Springboks’ hard-fought win in Dublin, the captain spent time greeting supporters who had stayed behind to see him. 

In a short video shared by TNT Sports across their social media platforms, fans can be heard cheering, calling out Kolisi’s name. As he took selfies with people along the sideline. 

One young supporter did not have a phone for a selfie, so he tried his luck and asked Kolisi for something a little unusual.

He asked for the captain’s sweaty shorts that he was wearing, and Kolisi did not think twice. He pulled them off and handed them over. 

The boy’s face lit up in disbelief as he watched Kolisi take the shorts off. “Thank you, bro,” he replied as he took the shorts from him.

It was a small moment, but it captured exactly how Kolisi treats the people who support him. He always gives more than what anyone expects.

The moment seems to have taken place after South Africa’s 24-13 victory over Ireland in the Autumn Nations Series. As reported by IOL, it was the Springboks’ first win in Dublin since 2012. 

Ireland struggled with discipline throughout the game and even went down to 12 men at one point after a series of cards, including a long red card for James Ryan. 

Despite Ireland staying competitive for long periods, the Springboks controlled the match with tries from Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, along with a penalty try that pushed them further ahead. 

Even after such a demanding match, Kolisi still made time for those who look up to him. As expected, the videos gained traction on social media shortly after, and fans were impressed by the captain’s kindness.

On TikTok, one fan @Frances wrote, “Oh man, he is the real Grootman, funny, loving and caring. That was not easy, but he did not hesitate.” 

Another fan, @AngelsAbove, added, “Siya Kolisi will stand out in history as one of our best captains.” And @Men-E called him “a humble and truly inspirational leader.”

One thing about Kolisi he stays stepping in for his young fans. One of the most memorable examples was when he came to the defence of a young boy named Darren, also known as Magyva, from the Western Cape.

Darren had reached out for help after struggling with bullies at school, and Kolisi responded by joining his class on a video call. He spoke directly to the bullies and told them he would come speak to them himself if the harassment continued. The classroom erupted with cheers.

The message seemed to have a real impact as Darren’s marks improved, he stopped missing school, and he told his mother he was going to dream about meeting his hero.

Even one of the bullies’ parents later apologised after seeing the story unfold online.