Siya Kolisi leaves Racing 92: 'I love playing for South Africa so much!'

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and French club Racing 92 have mutually agreed to terminate his three-year contract after one season.

Kolisi joined the Paris-based club immediately after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, moving with his family.

Earlier this year, Racing 92's president Jacky Lorenzetti described the South African rugby champion as having 'gained weight, lost shape and being transparent'.

Kolisi told reporters recently that he's committed to playing for the Springboks because he loves 'playing for South Africa so much!'

“When I arrived in Paris, I didn’t know what the future of my international career was, but when I started playing for the national team again (in June), I realised that my body had no rest. And above all, if I play for South Africa, I miss three months of the Top 14 season. I am very well paid and it makes me feel like I am stealing from Racing. So, for me, my physical health and the club, I want to do what is right, I don’t want to only invest half of myself.

“When they recruited me, they thought they had a full-time Siya Kolisi. But I love playing for South Africa so much, I want to continue with the Springboks," Kolisi told reporters.