A secretly arranged visit by Bok captain Siya Kolisi and his wife Rachel to Collegiate Girls’ High School had giddy schoolgirls in their element and hanging on their every word on Friday.
As the couple entered the school hall and were let in on the visit planned by deputy principal Derryk Jordan as inspiration to matrics and other pupils facing school exams, the large hall erupted in screams.
Posing as interviewer, Jordan – like Siya a former Grey High School pupil – asked questions, to which the starstruck girls screamed “ncooh!” (cute!) as the couple sitting on the stage completed each other’s sentences.
“So I told Siya a while ago that I work with 800 amazing ladies that he had to come and meet,” Jordan said.
Rachel, a former Victoria Girls’ High School pupil, said she was nervous about the live interview but Siya said he had visited Collegiate for socials and netball matches during his schooldays.
Asked who chooses their outfits, Siya – proving quite the ladies’ man – confessed he selected both his and Rachel’s clothes.
Asked about how many tattoos Siya has, Rachel joked that he should show them to his audience – a suggestion greeted by more screams.
The couple were then questioned on what they would tell their teenage selves.
Siya encouraged the girls to not only focus on their talents, but also their academics.
“I have to think on what I want to do after the rugby.”
Rachel said she would encourage her former self to be thankful for all that she had.
Head girl Sinesipho Bisiwe thanked the couple and presented them with a small gift.
Jordan also thanked the couple.
The Kolisis said they had to go to Siya’s home township of Zwide. They visited Ndzondelelo High School and Emsengeni Primary School to donate balls, pants, sanitary towels and shoes collected from social media accounts.