Bok Women’s Sevens name debutant Windvogel for crucial HSBC SVNS 2 opener in Nairobi

 The Springbok Women’s Sevens side have made just two enforced changes for the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS 2 series in Nairobi, with Shannon-Lee Windvogel set to make her international debut in place of the injured Vianca Boer.

Lerato Makua replaces her Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and Bulls Daisies teammate Zintle Mpupha, who is on provincial duty.

The Nairobi tournament is one of three events in the SVNS 2 series, and head coach Cecil Afrika is acutely aware of the importance of a strong start at Nyayo Stadium as South Africa chase promotion. To that end, he has retained the core of the squad that impressed in Dubai last month.

Ten players were part of the victorious group that claimed an unbeaten title run in HSBC SVNS 3 in Dubai, sealing progression to the next qualifying phase – SVNS 2.

“I am happy with the squad,” said Afrika. “The players worked really hard over the last couple of weeks to get ready for this competition and I am happy for them. They are determined to do well and start the qualification process on a good note. We prepared well and we are ready for this unique challenge.

“Shannon-Lee is still young, but very talented. She's very fast, has good footwork, an exciitng player with a bright future if she can be disciplined and committed, understanding where she is now and wanting to learn. She is very dynamic and fully fit again after a long struggle with injury. She did well when offered the opportunity in the Dubai International Invitational tournament in November and I am pleased for her.

“Lerato is also coming back into the fold after two or three years with her physicality, her height. She is quickly adapting to playing sevens again and will reach her full potential very soon.”

The format in Nairobi will see the six participating teams play each other once in a single round-robin, with log points determining the standings – a departure from the traditional pool-and-knockout structure.

“It will be a bit different from the format that we are used to during the normal world series, where your pool matches are followed by the knock-out phase,” said Afrika.

“It does make every match very important as points difference and bonus points are also up for the taking. A losing bonus point could turn out to be very valuable and a slip-up here can come back to bite you in the final tournament, so we need to take every match on its merits and make sure we pitch up every time.” 

The Blitzbok Women are no strangers to Nairobi, having won the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Championship in the Kenyan capital last year.

“It does help knowing the lay of the land a bit,” said Afrika.

The Springbok Women's Sevens squad for Kenya: 1. Leigh Fortuin, 2. Asisipho Plaatjies, 3. Patience Mokone, 7. Maria Tshiremba, 9. Nadine Roos (captain),10. Byrhandré Dolf, 12. Liske Lategan, 14. Simamkele Namba,16. Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 23. Ayanda Malinga, 26. Lerato Makua, 28. Shannon-Lee Windvogel.