Siya Kolisi Sparks Buzz with Birthday Wishes

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi made waves online after sharing a warm birthday tribute to Princess Charlene of Monaco on her 47th birthday.

The 33-year-old rugby star – who is currently on tour with the Sharks – took to Instagram on Saturday, 25 January, to post photos of himself presenting a wrapped gift to the 47-year-old Royal, who is also president of Monaco’s Rugby Federation.

In the caption, Kolisi wished Her Royal Highness a happy birthday before adding: “Thank you for the warm welcome yesterday and for your incredible support for rugby. I’m excited to see the impact you’ll have on rugby in Monaco and beyond.”

Princess Charlene, originally from Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, is a former Olympic swimmer and married to Prince Albert of Monaco. Her meeting with Kolisi was strictly professional, but some fans cheekily speculated otherwise, drawing comparisons between her and Kolisi’s estranged wife, Rachel.

The post happened just days after Rachel celebrated her 35th birthday, which Kolisi did not publicly acknowledge. The act resulted in further online chatter and fans couldn’t help but note the contrasting gestures, with some joking about Kolisi’s “type”.

While the reactions ranged from humour to curiosity, Kolisi’s post highlighted Princess Charlene’s important role in promoting rugby and strengthened ties between South African and Monegasque sporting communities.

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