Springbok fans in Cape Town have a date for the diary: Cheslin Kolbe will launch his new memoir at Cavendish Square on Thursday, 22 October 2026, and attendance is free — provided you book ahead.

The event, run with Exclusive Books, starts at 19:00 on the shopping centre's lower level, with doors open from 18:30. Kolbe will appear in conversation with David O'Sullivan, the award-winning broadcaster and author who collaborated on the book, before signing copies. The memoir, published by Pan Macmillan South Africa, is titled Cheslin Kolbe: Sidestepping the Odds. Copies will be on sale at the venue, so you can arrive bookless and leave with a signed one.

The book tells a story many South Africans know in outline but not in detail: a kid from Kraaifontein, on Cape Town's northern edge, who was repeatedly told he was too small for professional rugby, and who answered that by becoming one of the most recognisable players in the world game. Kolbe has lifted the Rugby World Cup twice with the Springboks, and the memoir covers not just the trophies but the foundations — family, faith and community — plus the setbacks along the way.

Practicalities are simple but strict. The launch costs nothing, yet places are limited and pre-booking is essential. Reservations go through the Exclusive Books events page, so securing a spot well in advance is the smart move; a free evening with a double World Cup winner is exactly the kind of thing that fills up fast.

For travellers, this is a nice excuse to build a Cape Town trip around. Cavendish Square sits in the leafy southern suburbs near Claremont, an easy train or Uber ride from the city bowl, and the area has plenty of restaurants for a pre- or post-event dinner. Pair the launch with springtime in the Cape — October brings wildflowers on the West Coast, warmer days on Table Mountain and whale watching season still ticking along in False Bay and Hermanus.

Faizah Behardien, centre manager at Cavendish Square, summed up the local pride, calling Kolbe's route from Kraaifontein to the top of international rugby an extraordinary achievement. For anyone who has watched him sidestep his way through defensive lines, hearing the story first-hand — and walking away with a signed copy — should be a memorable evening.

Thanks to Getaway South Africa for the original report.