Siya has made his mark in our national rugby team. The 23-year old – in his second year as an Audi ambassador – plays for the DHL Stormers and Springboks. Siya Kolisi talks cars, rugby and fitness with us.
You used to drive an Audi A3, how/why did you make the change from the A3, which is a sports car and believed to be suitable for youngsters, to a Q5?
Audi South Africa thought I might like to have a change. I love both cars, so it was a difficult move.
How long have you been playing rugby and how did you start?
I have been playing since I primary school. But, I started with soccer then joined my local rugby club, African Bombers, because my family were also members. So I played at school and at the club.
Why rugby?
I enjoyed spending time with family at the Bombers and loved the tactics of the game, and I couldn’t play soccer.
How do you keep fit off season?
You have to let your body rest to a certain extent, but not too much. Otherwise, you will really suffer when season starts again. We get special programmes for the off season to keep us fit and active.
What is a balanced diet for you?
Lots of fish is great as it is known to be rich in iron. Also vegetables, and chicken because it has protein. I drink lots of water too.
How long do you train during the season and what do you do?
We have different programmes for different days. Some days we have gym sessions and other days we are on the field, or both. We train for eight to nine hours, from 7am until 3 or 4pm.
Is there pressure in terms of fitness level and how do you maintain it?
As a rugby player you have to be fit to perform at your best, so there is always pressure to keep your fitness levels high.
What exercises do you recommend for our readers to do at home (without gym)?
Skipping is a great form of exercise as it targets a lot of muscle groups on the body.
Rugby players are known for their legs (well among the ladies), what do rugby players do differently to soccer players?
We focus more on legs in the gym because we need strong legs for rugby. For soccer, speed is more important than size.
Starch is seen as a bad dent to a healthy lifestyle, how much of it do you eat and what?
I have learnt that cutting out all food groups is not healthy. You have to ensure you have a portion from each food group daily, but obviously the higher percentage must be protein and vegetables.
