Siya Kolisi joined the Stormers in Galway last week immediately after completing his obligations with the Springboks in Australia. His 'second debut' for the Stormers came last Friday, and the path to the team was not easy.
The journey involved a long flight from Australia, a connecting flight, a bus ride through Ireland lasting over two hours, after which Siya Kolisi arrived in Galway late at night to join his teammates at the Stormers.
Despite the difficulty of the trip, it showed how important the Springbok captain is to the coaches and new teammates in the Cape Town franchise.
Kolisi asked to join the Stormers in Ireland
Kolisi was in Perth with the Springboks before their only match against Australia. When it became clear that he would not participate in the game, he contacted Stormers rugby director John Dobson to ask to join the team in Ireland.
John Dobson recalled: 'Siya called me last week and said he wanted to join us in Galway. He wasn't playing against Australia in Perth, so he called me and said he would like to join us.'
Dobson initially advised him to return to Cape Town, but Kolisi replied that 'the best place to connect with the team is on tour.'
As a result, Kolisi negotiated with SA Rugby for permission to travel. Initially, it was assumed he could leave on Friday, as the team needed him for training with the Boks. However, Dobson suggested he wait and meet in Scotland if he really wanted to come.
The journey from Perth to Galway at night
Nevertheless, Kolisi was determined to return to the Stormers as soon as possible. He spoke with Charles Wells and Rassie (Erasmus), and they allowed him to leave on Thursday.
This decision defined an incredible journey: he traveled from Perth to Dubai at midnight on Thursday, then from Dubai to Dublin, and from there took a bus for two or three hours to Galway. Dobson was present when the bus arrived and asked if he could play, and Kolisi answered affirmatively.
The answer was not surprising, as Kolisi had crossed half the globe wanting to be with the team, and now the opportunity arose to put on the Stormers jersey again sooner than expected.
However, the coaching staff intervened, stating that due to excessive travel, the condition of the 4G pitch, and hamstring risks, he could not play. Kolisi was slightly disappointed but then joined the non-playing team to make up for lost time.
A return that matters beyond the result
The Stormers ultimately waited for Kolisi to make his second debut for the franchise in Edinburgh. Although the match ended in a 17-13 defeat for the Stormers at Hive Stadium, the result did little to diminish the significance of his return.
For Dobson, what mattered most was the decision Kolisi made even before stepping onto the field. He noted: 'As I said, actions speak louder than words. It came from him, the call to join us, and I think that is priceless, thanks to his connections with the Springboks and just who he is. He has such a good presence in the team—cheerful, smiling, a joker.'
This aspect of Kolisi's return could easily have been overshadowed by the result at Hive Stadium. He had every reason to stay in Perth to rest and prepare for the Stormers' home games. Instead, he chose the long journey back to the team despite no guarantee that he would play at all. And although his second debut for the Stormers ended in a loss in Edinburgh, his journey to that event told a much bigger story.