Social media users are bringing receipts about why they believe Siya Kolisi and his wife Rachel have gone their separate ways. And according to many, the tell-tale signs were mentioned in the Springbok captain’s 2023 documentary called Rise.
The doccie – released ahead of the World Cup – was based on Siya’s autobiography of the same name.
SIYA KOLISI DOCCIE: CONFESSIONS OF CHEATING, ABUSE
According to one TikToker – @okuhle.is.here – possible causes for Siya Kolisi’s marriage demise were mentioned in his documentary, Rise.
The production – which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival – reflected on the life of South Africa’s first black Springboks captain. It also touched on his tough and poverty-stricken upbringing and broken family life. This included witnessing his mother’s abuse at the hands of her romantic partners, navigating her untimely death, his estrangement from father, as well as finding his half-siblings, who had been placed in foster care.
The doccie also touched on Siya in his role outside of rugby – as a father to his two kids and husband to his wife Rachel.
The TikToker revealed that Siya had made many confessions about cheating in past relationships and how he navigated fame and female fans as a married man.
siya kolisi, rachel kolisi, DMs
Siya Kolisi admitted to pursuing Rachel while he was dating another woman. Images via Instagram: @rachelkolisi
The rugby hero also spoke about the side nobody knew – his heavy drinking, frequenting strip clubs, and reckless spending. The issues were also mentioned in his autobiography.
Okuhle said: “[The documentary is about the] love story between Rachel and Siya. And the things Rachel has had to go through…the cheating, the abuse. All of these things were addressed in the documentary.
“But people were too busy focusing on the rugby story and him being a star, so they brushed over all of the things Rachel was talking about having to go through in order to make this marriage work.”
The TikToker explained that Siya’s childhood likely led him to exhibit “toxic and abusive behaviours.”
She added, “Even he acknowledges that he put her through a lot. We are not surprised that they are getting a divorce.”
@okuhle.is.here Reflections. #fyp #rachel #siya #kolisi #marriage #divorce #relationships #reflections #lessons ♬ I Wanna Know Jesus – Josué Novais Piano Worship
‘FOOLING AROUND WITH WOMEN’
In his autobiography, also titled Rise and released shortly before his documentary, Siya Kolisi also discussed his marriage to Rachel and his role in their struggles.
Some of it came even before their 2016 marriage. In 2015, just months after Rachel had given birth to their first child, Nicholas, Siya flew to England to play in the World Cup.
He was not a regular fixture in the squad and claimed he used his time off to drink himself into oblivion.
He wrote in the book: “Rachel [my wife] had come out with baby Nick, and this would have been the perfect opportunity to spend some time with them; but no, I preferred to be out with the boys.
Siya
Excerpts of Siya Kolisi’s book have resurfaced. Image Instagram @siyakolisi/ X @mercyca2
“It was an awful time for her, and I was too selfish to realise. In the end, Rachel got fed up with me being a jerk and flew home a week early.”
“Rachel had had enough. If it had been an isolated incident, that would have been one thing, but it wasn’t.”
Siya also alluded to cheating on Rachel when his Christian mentor Ben Schoeman told him: “Siya, you drink a lot, you fool around with women, you go to strip clubs. You post on social media about your faith in Christ, but you’re lying to yourself and everyone else.”
WHERE TO WATCH ‘RISE: THE SIYA KOLISI STORY’?
Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story was initially released on M-Net and Showmax last year.
However, Showmax’s spokesperson Kevin Kriedmann confirmed to The South African that their licence to air the production has since expired.
He added that the streaming platform is “trying to get it back, but there is no confirmed timeline yet.”