Siya Kolisi has become a worldwide brand since he guided the Springboks to glory at the World Cup in Japan last year.
The 28-year-old has been travelling the globe since November 2 after South Africa beat England 32-12.
His travels have seen him meet Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp in a restaurant in Cape Town and then sitting at Anfield as a guest a few weeks later, it has also seen him sign a deal with American rapper Jay-Z’s sports agency Roc Nation.
But those things pale in comparison to the smiles he gets from Mother City locals who look up to him.
And it’s for that reason that the Bok captain decided to say no thanks to the big bucks abroad to sign a contract extension at Newlands.
Kolisi explains: “It was tough [to say no to the offers], I won’t lie. We are all rugby players and we have families you want to look after.
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“For me personally, I believe that there is so much to do here in South African rugby and so much I can add value to by playing here and I can’t do the changes I want to do in my community if I’m not here...
“When we got back from Japan and we saw what sport does to people, it’s huge.
“Some guys have to leave to get the opportunity... but I really believe so much in what’s happening in South Africa and what we can do.”
On the field of play, Kolisi also has some unfinished business and adds: “I believe in this [Western Province] union so much and I would love to win a title with the Stormers - I’ve been here for nine years now and I’ve never won a single thing.
“There are also big games coming like the British and Irish Lions and I want to be here for that.
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“I’ve stayed here because I know what Dobbo’s [Stormers coach John Dobson] plans are and [Springbok coach] Rassie [Erasmus’s] plans are.
“My main focus now is to make sure I give everything I can to Dobbo now so I can get picked every week.
“Hopefully it inspires the next generation to know that you’ve got to do the hard yards because I’m also still 28 and you don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m 30.”