Kolbe keeps his Olympic Games dream alive
REACTION: Springbok World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe said he was holding discussions with the South African Rugby Union to play at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Kolbe, 26, who won a bronze medal at Rio 2016, said in November he was eyeing winning gold, but had yet to speak to the governing body about featuring in Japan between July 27 and August 1.
“I am in talks with them, but there has to be decisions made whether I can go or if I have to stay,” he said after Toulouse’s late 27-30 defeat at Racing 92 in the French Top 14 on Sunday.
“We still have to wait for that decision.
“Playing in the Olympics, representing your country at one of the biggest stages of the world is a big opportunity.
“If I can go it will be a blessing. I also don’t want to get ahead of myself.”
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Kolbe said at the end of last year he wanted to add Olympic success to his trophy-laden 2019 where he won the World Cup, The Rugby Championship and the French Top 14 title.
“There are two more things I would still love to achieve and that’s probably winning the European Champions Cup and hopefully the Olympics with South Africa,” he said.
Despite kicking 10 points on Sunday, while playing out of position at flyhalf, Kolbe’s Toulouse was beaten at La defence Arena in Paris.
Olivier Klemenczak scored 110 seconds into additional time to lift Racing to third.
Both sides had five players unavailable due to their Six Nations commitments including the visitors’ in-form halfback pair of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
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