The fleet-footed Springbok rugby star joins a long list of sporting icons to join the Laureus family, including his cousin Wayde van Niekerk, as well as former Bok legends Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.

Born in Scottsville in Kraaifontein, Kolbe’s rise in rugby has been tremendous. Kolbe played for Hoërskool Brackenfell and represented DHL Western Province at various youth levels, from the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2009 to the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

In his first year out of school, he represented the Springbok Sevens team and in 2016 he was part of the 12-man Blitzbok squad that went on the win the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Kolbe was called up to the Springbok squad in 2018 ahead of their Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches against Australia and New Zealand. He made his test debut in September 2018 off the bench against Australia in Brisbane before scoring his first Test try in the Springboks historic win over the All Blacks in Wellington a week later.

He was an integral part the Springbok squad that won the 2019 Rugby Championship and became the second South African to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final, following Makazole Mapimpi who scored in the same game as South Africa beat England 32-12 to win the World Cup for a third time.

Kolbe was instrumental in the Boks’ World Cup-winning campaign and walked away with the Top 14 Player of the Year award, Best Try of the Season and was also voted the Best Top 14 Player at the World Cup.

Chairperson of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA, Morné du Plessis, said: “Cheslin Kolbe is a remarkable rugby player and an inspiration to so many young kids in communities across South Africa.

"Coming from humble beginnings, he is testament that sport has the ability to change the course of ones’ life. We are extremely excited to welcome him to the Laureus Family and are very eager to see him flourish and inspire kids across SA."

Kolbe said it's a privilege and honour to be welcomed as an ambassador for Laureus.

"The work that the Laureus foundation has been doing across the world is amazing and I am thrilled to be associated with such an important organisation," he said.

"I cannot wait to assist where I can and create opportunities for kids who are in desperate need of guidance and assistance and looking to create a better future for themselves."

Laureus Ambassadors are a select group of both current and retired sportsmen and women who have achieved sporting greatness or made significant contributions to the sporting community during their careers. They are recognised as role models and icons of success and have volunteered their services to support the work of Laureus Sport for Good. Ambassadors volunteer their time to work for the Foundation whose mission is to use sport as a means to combat some of the world’s toughest social challenges facing young people today, such as juvenile crime, gangs, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, social exclusion, lack of education, landmine awareness and health problems such as obesity. Since its inception, Laureus has raised over €150m for projects which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people.

Cheslin Kolbe announced as Laureus Ambassador

Cheslin Kolbe, a Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks in 2019, has been appointed as the latest Laureus Sport for Good Foundation ambassador.