Siya and Rachel Kolisi divorce pending: Timeline of relationship

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Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and his wife Rachel announced that they are ending their marriage via an Instagram post on Tuesday 22 October. Take a look at a timeline of their love.

SIYA AND RACHEL KOLISI END THEIR MARRIAGE

In a joint Instagram post, Siya and Rachel Kolisi announced that they have decided to split after eight year of marriage.

“We wanted to share some important news with you. After much reflection and open conversations, we have mutually decided to end our marriage,” read the joint statement.

“This decision comes from a place of love, respect and understanding that this is the best path forward for both of us. While our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain great friends and committed partners in raising our children with the same love and care they’ve always known,” read the joint statement.

TIMELINE OF RACHEL AND SIYA KOLISI’S LOVE

2012: THE YEAR SIYA AND RACHEL MET

According to Wedding ETC Rachel Kolisi met Siya at a dinner party in Stellenbosch, Western Cape back in 2012.

Rachel Kolisi Instagram story. Image via screenshot from Instagram.

Rachel previously shared a snap of herself on the day of Siya’s Umgidi, where she was dressed in traditional attire. Umgidi is a Xhosa cultural event which is considered as a joyous family celebration, welcoming a boy returning as a man from the sacred custom of initiation. It is unclear when this took place.

‘EARLY DATING DAYS’

2014

The next milestone in the couple’s relationship was the birth of their first child Nicholas Siyamthanda in 2015 which Rachel described as a “miracle”.

Rachel also called Siya’s two younger siblings Liyema and Liphelo “two more miracles”. Siya and his siblings share a mother who unfortunately passed away in 2009 which left Liyema and Liphelo bouncing from orphanages to foster homes for years before Siya and Rachel were financially stable enough to adopt them in 2014.

This year Rachel celebrated ten years since they adopted Siya’s siblings.

2015

In December 2015, Siya asked Rachel to marry him in during a helicopter ride over Cape Town.

2016

The pair officially tied the knot.

2017

The next big moment in their lives was the birth of their second child Keziah Kolisi in 2017.

2023

The pair celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary. This was just before Rachel and the kids moved to Paris ahead of Siya joining Racing92. The family of four have since moved back to South Africa.