- Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe opened up about a devastating family moment during his time playing abroad
- The double World Cup winner spent six months away from his wife Layla and their three children while based in Japan
- The South African rugby star returned to the Stormers in 2026 after nine years playing overseas in France and Japan
Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe has spoken candidly about the personal toll of nearly a decade playing rugby abroad, citing a deeply affecting moment with his young son as a turning point in his decision to come home.
Kolbe returned to the Stormers in 2026, ending a nine-year stretch that took him through clubs in France and Japan. Speaking to IOL in June, the double Rugby World Cup winner said the choice was driven not by rugby ambition, but by a desire to be present for his family.
**"My Son Almost Didn't Recognise Me"**
During his time with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, Kolbe spent six months without seeing his children. When he finally reunited with his family, his son's uncertain reaction stayed with him long after the moment passed.
"Last year, I returned after six months of not seeing my children, Kylah, Mila and Cayden, and my boy almost didn't recognise me," Kolbe said.
His wife Layla and the children had remained in Cape Town throughout much of his time in Japan, making the separation particularly prolonged.
**Kolbe's Career Abroad and Long Road Home**
Before joining Suntory in 2023, Kolbe spent four years with Toulouse and then moved to Toulon in 2021. The years overseas yielded remarkable success on the field, including two Rugby World Cup winners' medals, but came at a significant personal cost.
Kolbe had attempted to arrange a return to Cape Town before his eventual homecoming, though those efforts did not come to fruition at the time. He also expressed a wish for his ageing parents to watch him play more regularly, something that had not been possible during his years in Europe and Japan.
His return to the Stormers, the club where his professional career began, has allowed him to rebuild that daily closeness with the people most important to him. For a player whose international achievements place him among the best in the world, the opportunity to be present in his children's lives has become his most valued priority.
Source: Briefly News
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