Covid took the Springbok rugby world champions off the map in 2020.
But the hero of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup win, winger Cheslin Kolbe, continued to score stupendous tries and has been making a huge impact at the French club Toulouse.
Many are now rating him as the best rugby player in the world.
The diminutive Kolbe was a sensation at the World Cup as defenders bounced off him as he scored South Africa’s second try in the final that ended any doubt that England would be sent home without a trophy.
Born in Kraaifontein in the Western Cape, 27-year-old Kolbe narrowly lost the 2019 World Rugby player of the year award to teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit.
His sensational season at Toulouse has included a jaw-dropping performance at the end of November when he came back from injury to score and help his team knock Agen 63-18.
On 11 December he was on form again against Ulster scoring a try that stole the headlines.
Despite his size Kolbe is awesome in defence as well.
Kolbe lives with his wife, Layla Cupid, who he married in 2018 in Stellenbosch, and their two-year-old daughter Kylah, in France. In June it was reported that they were expecting his second born.
Video: (@Murray_Kinsella)
