Siya Kolisi may yet return to the Sharks after the Rugby Championship in a new twist to the Springbok captain’s transfer saga from Racing 92.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, businessman Vincent Mai, who financed Kolisi’s schooling at Grey High, has come on board and is willing to help the Sharks pay Kolisi’s transfer fee.
Negotiations around the transfer had stalled as Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti is demanding a full repayment of the R17 million (€726,200) spent to sign Kolisi from the Durbanites in early 2023.
The Sharks had proposed staggering the payment over two to three years, but Lorenzetti is understood to have rejected the proposal outright.
Kolisi, who has been with Racing for less than a year, made 18 appearances last season but has faced sharp criticism from Lorenzetti. After Racing’s Top 14 playoff loss to Bordeaux, Lorenzetti accused the Springbok captain of being “out of shape and invisible”.
Despite their soured relationship, Lorenzetti is believed to be refusing to release the 33-year-old unless the Sharks meet his financial demands in full.
Photo: Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu