Preparations intensify for Springbok Women ahead of Rugby Africa Women’s Cup

The Women's Rugby World Cup in England, starting in late August, is looming ever larger for the Springbok Women, who stepped up preparations for the showpiece when a group of 38 players assembled in Cape Town on Sunday.

The Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in early June is the next assignment for the group, followed by Test matches against Canada a month later. They are fresh off a tour to France and Spain that included a one-off Test against Spain, which the Springbok Women won 46-26 in Alicante.

Springbok Women's Performance coach Swys de Bruin invited 47 players to the two-week camp, with nine players who are currently in Los Angeles with the Springbok Women’s Sevens joining the squad next weekend.

The first week of camp will be in Newlands in Cape Town, and the second at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) from May 9-16.

“Following our successful tour to France and Spain, the next phase of our World Cup campaign now kicks off in all earnest,” said De Bruin.

“We had a good tour with most of our objectives met and we can start this phase more aligned as a group on what we want to achieve, while also getting a good look at our next group of players who will travel to Madagascar, expanding our depth in the process.”

A group of 28 will travel to the Rugby Africa event, while a group of senior players will remain at SAS for that time.

Among the new call-ups for this camp are DHL Western Province players Anuchka Ekron, Bronishia Hess and Anushka Groenewald, and the Sharks duo of Sinothile Bhengu and Amanda Ndlovu.  Anja le Roux and Logan Welman joined the camp from the Springbok Women’s Sevens training squad.

Ayanda Malinga, Nadine Roos, Zintle Mpupha, Rights Mkhari, Simamkele Namba, Leigh Fortuin, Felicia Jacobs, Alicia Willemse and Patience Mokone will join next weekend in Stellenbosch after returning from the HSBC Play-Off tournament in Los Angeles.

They were unable to guide the sevens side to a place in the Top 4 despite wins over Ireland and  Argentina in their pool matches. A dramatic loss to Kenya denied them a place in Division 2 and consigned them to another season in the regional circuit.

The LA tournament will still be a memorable one for Fortuin, who scored her first two tries in the  international sevens arena. Her second secured a dramatic come-from-behind 17-14 win over Argentina after the hooter. 

Fortuin and the rest of the multi-code stars will be hoping to transfer their sevens sharpness to the XVs format.

Springbok Women squad:

Forwards (26): Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions); Sinothile Bhengu, Amanda Ndlovu, Nobuhle Mjwara (all Sharks Women); Anuchka Ekron, Luchell Hanekom, Roseline Botes, Anushka Groenewald, Azisa Mkiva, Nolusindiso Booi, Nomsa Mokwai, Bronishia Hess (all DHL Western Province); Logan Welman (Springbok Women’s Sevens); Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies); Sanelisiwe Charlie, Yonela Ngxingolo, Dineo Ndlhovu, Anathi Qolo, Sizophila Solontsi, Faith Tshauke, Lerato Makua (all Bulls Daisies); Babalwa Latsha, Danelle Lochner (both Harlequins Women); Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders), Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers), Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames).

Backs (12):Tayla Kinsey, Mary Zulu (both Sharks Women); Anja le Roux (Springbok Women’s Sevens); Aphiwe Ngwevu, Eloise Webb (both Border Ladies); Unam Tose, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Chumisa Qawe, Chuma Qawe, Jakkie Cilliers, Byrhandrѐ Dolf (all Bulls Daisies), Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames).