Cheslin Kolbe


Cheslin Kolbe is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the South Africa national team and for in the Top 14 in France. His regular position is wing, but he also plays at fullback.
Kolbe was a member of the South Africa Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the South Africa team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Playing at right wing, he scored South Africa's second try in the final minutes of the final. Kolbe was nominated for 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year but lost to South Africa teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Career

Youth level

Kolbe played for Brackenfell High School. He represented at various youth levels, from the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2009 to the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship..

Sevens

Between 2012 and 2017, he represented the South Africa Sevens team. In 2013, he was included in the squad for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

South Africa Under-20

In 2013, he was included in the training group that toured Argentina in preparation for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. He was then included in the squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.

Western Province

He made his provincial first class debut in their Vodacom Cup match against. and a month later he was named on the bench for the for their Super Rugby game against the.
In October 2014 he was part of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup by beating the Lions 19-16.
He penned a three-year deal to remain at Western Province until 2016.

2016 Summer Olympics

Kolbe was included in a 12-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was named as a substitute for their first match in Group B of the competition against Spain, with South Africa winning the match 24–0.

Toulouse

Kolbe moved to France to join Top 14 side for the 2017–2018 season. Kolbe received a call-up to the South Africa national team for the 2018 Rugby Championship. He made his debut for South Africa against on 8 September, during Round Three of the competition, coming on in the 33rd minute as an injury replacement for Makazole Mapimpi, in a match that South Africa lost 18–23.
In June 2019 Kolbe started for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14 final winning the French Championship.

International career

Kolbe made his test debut in 2018 and played a part in Springboks winning the 2019 Rugby Championship. On 2 November, Kolbe was part of the 2019 World-Cup winning team in Japan, scoring a try late in the second half of the Final against England.

Test Match record

AgainstPWDLTriPts%Won
110015
210100
110015
110000
1100210
2200210
4112210
110000
100100
Total14914840

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

Test tries (8)

TriesOppositionLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1Wellington, New ZealandWestpac Stadium2018 Rugby Championship15 September 2018
1Pretoria, South AfricaLoftus Versfeld2018 Rugby Championship6 October 2018
1Salta, ArgentinaEstadio Padre Ernesto Martearena2019 Rugby Championship10 August 2019
2Kumagaya, JapanKumagaya Rugby StadiumTest match6 September 2019
2 Fukuroi, JapanShizuoka Stadium2019 Rugby World Cup4 October 2019
1Yokohama, JapanInternational Stadium Yokohama2019 Rugby World Cup Final2 November 2019

Personal life

Kolbe is a cousin of South African track and field sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, who won the gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2016 Olympics.