Influence.

Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks captain, Siya Kolisi, has revealed that an All Blacks legend played a role in one of the biggest steps in his career.

Kolisi is set to ply his trade outside of South Africa for the first time this season, after signing a deal with French giants, Racing 92.

The former Sharks and and Stormers flanker has revealed he got career advice from All Blacks great, Dan Carter, who spent three seasons with the Parisian side from 2015 to 2018, and like Kolisi, joined them after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.

Carter won the Top 14 with Racing in 2016 and played a role in Kolisi signing for the French side, along with Cameron Woki and Yannick Nyanga.

“I can’t wait to play. The Top 14 is the missing piece for me. I came for the reputation, it is one of the most difficult championships in the world. I have to prove myself on the pitch,” Kolisi told RugbyRama.

“I spoke to Cameron [Woki] and Yannick [Nyanga] before signing. Dan Carter also had an influence on me coming.”

Kolisi has transcended the sport of rugby in recent years to become one of the biggest stars in the world. He recently became the first rugby player to reach 1 million followers on Instagram, but Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti has assured Kolisi he has signed the player, not the superstar.

Jacky Lorenzetti told me he wanted to recruit the rugby player, not the superstar. I really appreciated this,” Kolisi added.

“Racing 92 is a club that has not achieved as much as Toulon or Toulouse so we have something to build and I want to be part of this history.

“I’ve played in South Africa all my life and to move to a new club, so different, it’s special. But my teammates and Jack, made things easier for me.

“My family moved before me so everything is going very well.”