Gael Fickou gives candid view on Siya Kolisi’s ‘choice’ to leave Racing 92

France and Racing 92 centre Gael Fickou said he “understands” and will “respect” South Africa back-row Siya Kolisi’s decision if he opts to end his stint with the Top 14 outfit sooner than expected.

Kolisi captained the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in Japan and France in 2019 and 2023 respectively before joining Racing 92 after last year’s global showpiece.

However, after just one season of club rugby in France the 33-year-old is looking to exit the final two years of his contract with Racing 92 after battling to settle down at the Parisian club but negotiations over his release fee has been the stumbling block.

Criticised by Racing’s president

Kolisi received criticism from Racing’s president Jacky Lorenzetti, who said the Springboks skipper has ‘gained weight, lost shape and was transparent’ after he completed his first season with the Parisian outfit.

That led to Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus confirming that negotiations between Racing 92 and Kolisi’s former club, the Sharks, are underway with the Durban-based outfit hoping to buy Kolisi out of his contract with the French club.

Negotiations reportedly hit a snag last week as the Sharks wanted to pay the hefty fee – believed to be around R17 million (about £726,000) – in instalments but Lorenzetti rejected that offer as he wanted the sum up front as his club paid the Sharks a similar lump sum to secure Kolisi’s services.

However, according to Sunday newspaper, Rapport, Kolisi could return to the Sharks following this year’s Rugby Championship after a generous businessman, Vincent Mai, offered to assist the Sharks in paying the hefty fee to secure the Bok captain’s return to South Africa.

Siya Kolisi: Springboks captain’s South Africa return saved from ‘brink of collapse’ – report

Mai is no stranger to Kolisi as he also financed the flanker’s schooling at Grey High in Gqeberha.

And Fickou fully understands the situation in which Kolisi finds himself in.

“His choice will be the right one for him,” the 30-year-old told AFP. “If he feels like his family are not well settled in France and that he needs to be down there, then I understand it and we will respect that.”

Fickou feels Kolisi’s departure from Racing will not affect Racing’s preparations for the upcoming Top 14 season which gets underway this weekend with an away match against Castres.

‘We’ll find other solutions’

“No one is indispensable at Racing,” he said. “We’ll find other solutions.”

Kolisi captained South Africa to a come-from-behind 31-27 victory over New Zealand in last Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test in Johannesburg. He sustained a facial injury in that encounter which makes him doubtful for this weekend’s rematch with the All Blacks in Cape Town.

Erasmus is set to announce the Springboks team for that clash on Thursday.

READ MORE: Springboks ‘hopeful’ Siya Kolisi can recover from ‘proper knock’ for second All Blacks clash