Cheslin Kolbe had the chance to come back to South Africa and finish his career as an icon of Western Province Rugby, but he has turned it down.
In response to engagement from Kolbe’s agents, the Stormers packaged a deal of a lifetime for the Springbok dynamo. As reported by Netwerk24, the 28-year-old was presented with a five-year contract to the value of R55-million with multiple perks, including employment for his wife.
The offer highlights the Stormers’ lofty ambitions and commitment to sustained success after clinching the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship title, and it included a proviso to accommodate Kolbe’s wish to remain in France until January when he and his family would qualify for French citizenship.
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SARugbymag.co.za has been reliably informed that the Toulon star agreed to the offer in principle before he shocked the decision-makers at WP Rugby with a sudden change of heart. It is understood that Kolbe, represented by Roc Nation, turned down the blockbuster deal on the basis of “safety and security” concerns.
He famously dodged the perils of being exposed to gangsterism as a youth but if he now believed Cape Town posed a security risk, it raises questions over why his family continues to reside in Kraaifontein, and why he would be identified as an ambassador for Investec SA.
Moreover, it is understood that Kolbe plans on joining several of his Bok teammates in Durban after the 2023 Rugby World Cup as a member of the Sharks.
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Source: SA Rugby
Picture: Twitter/@SARugbyMag
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