Home › Memoirs › Sidestepping the Odds
New memoir · October 2026Cheslin Kolbe Memoir: Sidestepping the Odds, What the Book Covers
Sidestepping the Odds is Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe’s memoir of rising from Kraaifontein, a Cape Town community marked by crime and violence, to the top of world rugby despite being told he was too small. He credits faith, family and his father’s lessons in hard work and humility.
- Book: Cheslin Kolbe: Sidestepping the Odds
- Author: Cheslin Kolbe
- Published: October 2026, Pan Macmillan South Africa
- Themes: overcoming doubt, faith and family, perseverance
What is Cheslin Kolbe’s new book?
Sidestepping the Odds is Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe’s memoir of rising from Kraaifontein, a Cape Town community marked by crime and violence, to the top of world rugby despite being told he was too small. He credits faith, family and his father’s lessons in hard work and humility.
About Cheslin Kolbe
Cheslin Kolbe is a South African rugby wing who has won two Rugby World Cups with the Springboks and was named South Africa’s Men’s Rugby Player of the Year in 2024.
What the book covers
- Growing up in Kraaifontein amid crime, drugs and violence
- Being told he was too small to play rugby
- His career with Western Province, the Stormers, Toulouse, Toulon and in Japan
- Two Rugby World Cup titles with the Springboks
- Coming home to the Stormers to be closer to his family
Inspired to tell your own story? You don’t need to be famous to write a memoir. Many of the best known memoirs are written with a professional collaborator. Find out which kind of writer fits your story and budget in five quick questions.
Find my memoir writerWho it’s for
Rugby fans, Springbok supporters and young athletes told they don’t fit the mould.
What it shows about writing a memoir
Kolbe’s story is built around the doubters he proved wrong, a classic and powerful arc for any memoir. Our guide to story beginnings covers how to open a life story with that kind of tension.
Where to buy Sidestepping the Odds
Want to capture a parent’s or grandparent’s story? Our free Memoir Interview Kit gives you the questions professional ghostwriters ask, so you can start recording memories this week.
Get the free interview kitFrequently asked questions
What is Cheslin Kolbe’s new book?
Cheslin Kolbe’s new book is Sidestepping the Odds, a memoir published by Pan Macmillan South Africa, out October 2026.
What is Sidestepping the Odds about?
Sidestepping the Odds is Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe’s memoir of rising from Kraaifontein, a Cape Town community marked by crime and violence, to the top of world rugby despite being told he was too small. He credits faith, family and his father’s lessons in hard work and humility.
When was Sidestepping the Odds released?
Sidestepping the Odds by Cheslin Kolbe was published by Pan Macmillan South Africa in October 2026.
Who is Cheslin Kolbe?
Cheslin Kolbe is a South African rugby wing who has won two Rugby World Cups with the Springboks and was named South Africa’s Men’s Rugby Player of the Year in 2024.
Where can I buy Sidestepping the Odds?
Sidestepping the Odds is available from major retailers including Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble and Audible, and from local bookstores.
Can I write a memoir even if I’m not famous?
Yes. Most memoirs are written by people who are not public figures, often for family or a small readership. Many people work with a memoir ghostwriter who interviews them and writes the book in their voice. Our Writer Match Quiz can help you find the right kind of writer.
This page describes the book using information from the publisher and press coverage. It is not a review, and My Book Written is not affiliated with the author or publisher.
More new memoirs
Other new celebrity memoirs
Games of My Life
Sir Alex Ferguson. Seventy years of football told through 21 defining matches, from Glasgow boyhood to Manchester United. A Sunday Times No. 1.
What it covers → Memoir · October 2026Walking the Warrior’s Path
Cecil Peoples. From picking cotton in Alabama to full-contact karate champion and early UFC referee.
What it covers → Memoir · September 15, 2026The Perilous Fight
Colin Kaepernick. The publisher describes it as equal parts memoir and manifesto: a first-person account of his life and of the protest that drew national attention
What it covers → Memoir · October 13, 2026Sitcom
Chuck Lorre. His life in TV comedy, told through the failures as much as the hits: marriages, addiction, a decade in Scientology and the pilots that went nowhere.
What it covers →Every life has a book in it
Get matched with a memoir writer who fits your story, budget and timeline. Five questions, no cost.
Start my memoir