Cheslin Kolbe is turning the page on Japan. The South African full-back and two-time world champion confirmed on Monday his departure from Tokyo Sungoliath for a return to the Stormers, the club where he grew up between 2013 and 2017. At 32, the Cape Town man begins a new chapter of his career in South Africa with the URC in his sights.

The world champion returns to his roots

After three seasons in exile in Japan, Cheslin Kolbe is finally coming home. The Stormers confirmed on Monday the arrival of the 32-year-old wing from Tokyo Sungoliath. For Kolbe, this return to South Africa is the closing of a circle: the Cape club saw him start out as a professional and establish himself before he conquered Europe and then the world.

One of the hardest decisions of my career

Cheslin Kolbe

The 2019 and 2023 world champion had an agonising choice to make. His move to Japan in 2023 was about a new quest, away from European competition. Three years on, the circle is complete: Kolbe returns to where it all began, at the heart of the Stormers’ project.

A major contract and stated ambitions

The transfer is a strategic move for the Stormers. According to information from Quinze Mondial, a “huge contract” surrounds the signing. At 32, Kolbe is entering a phase of his career in which experience and stability come to the fore. His return to South Africa is also a strong signal: the two-time world champion has the World Cup in his sights, an objective that is guiding his choice.

A career defined by professionalism

Cheslin Kolbe embodies a certain kind of rugby maturity. After starting out with the Stormers (2013-2017), he went on to conquer Europe with Toulon, then shone with Toulouse in the Champions Cup. His Japanese exile has hardened his profile and made him an even shrewder player. This return, then, is not a golden retirement but a renewed ambition in the URC, where the Stormers fully intend to put him back at the heart of their project.