Calm, ruthless, relentless: Nadine Roos drives Springbok Women’s Sevens push

Springbok Women’s Sevens skipper Nadine Roos will once again be the heartbeat of South Africa’s campaign as they chase Rugby Africa Cup glory and a path back to the global stage in Nairobi this weekend.

If composure under pressure wins tournaments, the Springbok Women’s Sevens are already halfway there. Their captain, Nadine Roos, has built her reputation on calm decision-making and fierce competitiveness — qualities that coach Cecil Afrika believes will be decisive when South Africa kick off the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup in Kenya on Saturday.

Afrika, leading the team in the absence of Renfred Dazel, said Roos’ leadership and standards have set the tone throughout the squad’s preparations in Stellenbosch and Pretoria.

“The players selected have played in major tournaments before, and with the high standards she has set, Nadine will push them to be at their best on the field,” the former Blitzbok playmaker said.

Roos has been central to every milestone in South African women’s sevens over the past five years. Fresh from helping the Bok Women reach their first World Cup quarter-final in England, she now turns her attention to steering the sevens side back into the SVNS system.

South Africa are pooled with Zambia, Ghana and Egypt in Nairobi, needing to top their group and win the knockout rounds to progress to Challenger 3 in January, the next rung on the ladder towards restoring their World Series status.

Afrika said the squad’s recent altitude camp in Pretoria has prepared them physically, but he is counting on Roos’ composure to keep the team mentally sharp. Yet the burden will not fall on the skipper alone.

The Bok Women’s Sevens squad is packed with experience: Zintle Mpupha, Byrhandré Dolf and Ayanda Malinga join Roos from the World Cup side, while Leigh Fortuin, Simamkele Namba and Shiniqwa Lamprecht return from the team’s last SVNS Playoff in Los Angeles. The comeback of Liske Lategan, following knee surgery, further strengthens their depth. In fact, every player in the squad has represented South Africa on the world stage before.

Afrika admitted final selection was difficult, given the competitiveness of the training group, but expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and leadership.

“It was a great effort by all the players, which makes it hard for any coach. But the selected group has the maturity, experience and hunger to deliver. Nadine’s standards will push everyone to be at their best,” he said.

Afrika added that the weekend also serves as a vital building block for a new phase of the Bok Women’s Sevens programme.

“Our goal is to win the tournament, but also to build depth and refine how we want to play. This event gives us a platform to get our systems going again after a break in competition,” he said.

With their captain leading by example and a squad desperate to reclaim their place among the world’s elite, the Bok Women’s Sevens will not be short on belief — or bite — when the whistle blows in Nairobi.

Springbok Women’s Sevens squad for the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup:

1 Leigh Fortuin, 2 Asisipho Plaatjies, 3 Patience Mokone, 4 Zintle Mpupha, 5 Vianca Boer, 6 Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 7 Maria Tshiremba, 8 Simamkele Namba, 9 Nadine Roos (captain), 10 Byrhandré Dolf, 11 Ayanda Malinga, 12 Liske Lategan.