South Africa is poised to notch a few firsts this month, starting with a first-ever game against Wales on U.S. soil, followed by head coach Rassie Erasmus' groundbreaking decision to appoint the team's first-ever black captain.

Following the Springboks game against Wales at RFK Stadium—LIVE on FloRugby for North American fans—South Africa will host England in a three-match series. And Siya Kolisi will be the team's captain.

This is the first time that the Springboks captain will be a black player. 

Rugby union was for decades a symbol of the Apartheid policy in South Africa. At the same time, however, efforts were made through the years to bring non-whites into the team (the great Errol Tobias was the first, in 1981). 

The first black Springbok captain. ?? Well done to Siya Kolisi. pic.twitter.com/fIML0Delsl

— Chumani Gugwini (@chumani_gugwini) May 28, 2018

But in 1995, after Apartheid was ended and South Africa was brought back into world sports, it was the rugby team that helped unite the country with an eye to a new, racially-mixed, future. 

The Springboks winning the World Cup in 1995 provided the chance for then-captain Francois Pienaar, and then-President Nelson Mandela to celebrate together—a story told by John Carlin in his book, which became a film starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.

Today's Springboks, and the Blitzbokke sevens team, have become heavily integrated, but no black player has ever been captain of the team, until now.

Captain, my captain! Best news of the rugby year. @Springboks captain Siya Kolisi. ?????? pic.twitter.com/V2CNmTmWmW

— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) May 28, 2018

Head coach and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus named Pieter Steph-du Toit to captain the squad against Wales, and Kolisi, a 26-year-old flanker who plays for the Stormers, captain against England.

“It’s a huge honour to captain the Springboks and Siya and Pieter-Steph are two honest, hardworking men who enjoy the respect of their fellow players,” said Erasmus. “I believe both of them will do a good job as captains. My philosophy is that each player must take responsibility for his position and must therefore work extremely hard with that one goal in mind—to make the Springboks successful again.”

Congrats to our very own Siya Kolisi for being appointed as the captain of the @Springboks! Massive honour and well deserved ?????? pic.twitter.com/4AbVSo48K3

— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) May 28, 2018

Born in Zwide township near Port Elizabeth, loose forward Kolisi is also the DHL Stormers captain and has played in 28 Tests since making his debut at age 22 against Scotland in Nelspruit on June 15, 2013. 

My son is #SiyaKolisi’s biggest fan. Wait until he comes home from school to hear the news that Kolisi is the new Bok captain! ?? pic.twitter.com/b6RtNfC1A1

— Gasant Abarder ?? (@GasantAbarder) May 28, 2018

Erasmus' choice of captain is an important one. The player has to handle the team's relationship with the referee, and keep the players together in the face of adversity.

"I am all about my deeds," Kolisi said in one interview. That may well be what is needed. But the key part of this is that the choice has to be, and appears to be, a rugby choice. With that in mind, on a social level within South Africa especially, Kolisi's appointment had enormous meaning.