Springbok captain and wife announce sudden split after eight years as SA darlings

In a move that shocked South Africa, Springbok rugby star Siya Kolisi and his wife Rachel announced yesterday that they are heading to Splitville.

The couple released a joint statement in which they stated that they had decided to end their marriage.

The shocking news comes shortly after the couple returned to South Africa from France after Siya terminated her contract with Racing 92.

“This decision comes from a feeling of love, respect and understanding that this is the best path forward for both of us. Although our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain great friends and committed partners in raising our children with the same love and care they have always known.

“We will also continue to work together at the Foundation which means a lot to us,” read the statement posted on its official social media accounts.

The couple adored by many met in 2012, at a dinner in Stellenbosch. They became friends and that was the beginning of their love story.

In 2015, they welcomed their first son, Nicholas Siyamthanda, and then daughter Keziah, born in 2017.

They also adopted Siya’s younger half-siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, in 2014.

Due to Siya’s busy schedule, Rachel chose to leave behind her career as an events manager and marketing executive to become a full-time mother to her four children.

She later headed the Kolisi Foundation.

Siya and Rachel got married on August 13, 2016, with a beautiful ceremony in Franschhoek that was even captured by the “Top Billing” cameras.

The couple faced difficulties together, from racial abuse to women who allegedly tried to interfere in their marriage.

Rachel has already taken to social media to criticize vroumense for labeling Siya as a “type” and sending her sassy messages on Instagram.

Last year, the South African darlings celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary and in a chat with Siv Ngesi, Siya opened up about how Rachel supported him deur dik and dun.

He said: “I wanted a family, I longed for a family. She got pregnant and before Nick was born we met my brother and sister.

“She took in two other children who didn’t speak a word of English and I wasn’t in a good situation. I was living as if I had no family. She stayed with me,” said Siya.

The Kolisi’s statement did not reveal the reason for the sudden separation, but they asked for respect as they navigated the transition and thanked the public for the love, understanding and support they showed them.