Two-time World Cup winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has left Racing 92 with two years left on his contract, the French top 14 club have announced.
“Siya Kolisi and Racing 92 have reached an agreement to terminate his contract,” a club statement said. On Sunday.
Kolisi, who has been linked with a return to the Sharks, arrived in France after helping the side win their second Webb Ellis Cup in South Africa last year.
This isn’t entirely unexpected news. – Colisi’s family reportedly felt homesick in the French capital. – The win came just 24 hours later, with the powerful loose forward leading the world champions to an 18-12 win over New Zealand in Cape Town.
Kolisi, playing with a broken nose, scored a try early in the second half as the Boks came from 3-9 down at half-time to claim what they said was South Africa’s most important win since beating their opponents in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year.
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While Kolisi starred in the Rugby Championship, Racing started their Top 14 season with a defeat to Castres.
“The two parties thank each other for sharing sporting moments in the blue and white uniforms and wish each other good luck in the future,” Racing 92 added in a statement.
His move to Racing was reportedly on the verge of collapse as negotiations reached a deadlock.
Talks are understood to have stalled after Racing Club owner Jackie Lorenzetti demanded the full repayment of the R17m (€726,200) he spent to sign Kolisi from Sharks in early 2023.
Kolisi, who joined Racing less than a year ago, made 18 appearances last season but was criticised sharply by Lorenzetti, who accused the Springbok captain of being “out of shape and unsightly” after Racing lost to Bordeaux in the top 14 play-off.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: @racing92/Twitter
