Rugby: South Africa appoints first black captain

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Siya Kolisi will become South Africa’s first black captain after being appointed for three test matches against England starting next month.

Kolisi, 26, has played 28 tests since making his debut at age 22 against Scotland in Nelspruit, South Africa, in June 2013.

The news of Kolisi’s appointment brought great excitement among South Africans on social media and the streets.

“#SiyaKolisi first black springboks captain, heyiiii ,” Unathi Ntlatywa, a Twitter user wrote.

“Yes, #Kolisi! Great player. He's a real leader of men,” Murray Anderson-Ogle, another user tweeted.

Rugby had generally been considered a white game in South Africa, since the apartheid regime which ended in 1994, had refused blacks from playing the game. The sport has now started transforming with a few black players.