Cheslin Kolbe did not plan to leave South Africa so early in his career, but does not regret anything despite enduring the “worst feeling” in Japan.

The world-class speedster signed for French Top 14 giants Toulouse in 2017 at the age of 24 and has spent the last nine years abroad before signing a deal to return to the Stormers.

During that spell abroad, he won two Top 14 titles with Toulouse, a Champions Cup before lifting the Challenge Cup trophy with RC Toulon. After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he joined Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath, who he has represented for the past three years.

Cheslin Kolbe: I didn’t expect to leave South Africa so early

Kolbe’s second debut for the Stormers has been delayed after breaking his jaw while on international duty with the Springboks, but the winger is back in South Africa after nearly a decade abroad.

“I left at quite a young age, 24 years old. I didn’t think I was going to leave that early, especially just getting married, having our firstborn who was three or four months old, and leaving South Africa, leaving family, leaving all the support structure behind, and going into a new culture in France,” he told the For the Love of Rugby podcast.

“It was nerve-wracking in the beginning and also exciting. I think what made the move all worth it was just myself, my wife, obviously the little one was way too young to like express feelings and having a say. It was just going there with an open mind, wanting to embrace a different culture, learn the language.

“Then, just for me as a rugby player, to test myself in a different country, a different competition. But at the time, I didn’t want to leave South Africa, but if I look back at it now, 9 or 10 years later, I don’t regret anything at all.

“On the field, I’ve learned a lot, but more so off the field. The people I’ve met, the man that I’ve become, the husband I’ve become to my wife and my kids, the growth has been exceptional. Being back in South Africa, it’s probably the best thing that could have happened.”

Worst feeling as a father

Kolbe’s final stint abroad in Japan was the most challenging for him, with his wife and kids remaining in South Africa during the season. Not being there for his partner and children was a real challenge for the Springboks winger, who is pleased to be back in the Mother City.

“I’ve been wanting to come home for so long, but I’m a firm believer that God will put us where he wants us to be at the right time,” he continued.

“I just feel that now was the right time for me to get back home, especially missing out on so much time with my wife and my kids because when I was in Japan, they were in South Africa.

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“So that transition was so much tougher than going to France, being away from there most of the time.

“I could just feel that I was like kind of drifting away from my wife and the kids and just seeing how they developed and growing each every day. And having to see that on a screen, it’s probably the worst, worst feeling as a father and as a husband. Just to be back in Cape Town, it’s incredible. There’s no place like Cape Town in the world.”