South Africa women's national rugby union team

For the men's team, see South Africa national rugby union team. For the women's sevens team, see South Africa women's national rugby sevens team.

South Africa
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameSpringbok Women
EmblemSpringbok
UnionSouth African Rugby Union
Head coachSwys de Bruin
CaptainNolusindiso Booi
Most capsNolusindiso Booi
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current12 (as of 4 September 2023)
Highest10 (2011)
First international
  5–8 Wales 
(Port Elizabeth, South Africa; 29 May 2004)
Biggest win
  128–3 Namibia 
(Cape Town, South Africa; 23 June 2022)
Biggest defeat
 England 101–0  
(East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005)
World Cup
Appearances4 (First in 2006)
Best result10th place, 2010, 2014
Websitehttps://www.sarugby.co.za/
South Africa at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup

The South Africa women's national rugby union team represents South Africa in women's international rugby union and is governed by the South African Rugby Union. They have appeared in four World Cups since their debut in the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup.

History

The Springbok Women played their first Test in 2004.[1] They have won the Rugby Africa Women's Cup twice — in 2019 and 2022.[2][3] South Africa climbed to eleventh place on the World Rugby ranking in September 2022 with wins over Japan and Spain.[4]

Players

Recent squad

On 9 August, South Africa named their final 32-player squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.[5][6]

Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 22 August 2025, the first day of the tournament.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Micke Günter Hooker (1998-10-25)25 October 1998 (aged 26) 13 England Leicester Tigers
Lindelwa Gwala Hooker (1997-08-24)24 August 1997 (aged 27) 35 Unattached
Luchell Hanekom Hooker (2001-01-17)17 January 2001 (aged 24) 9 South Africa Western Province
Sanelisiwe Charlie Prop (2000-05-01)1 May 2000 (aged 25) 26 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Xoliswa Khuzwayo Prop (1999-06-17)17 June 1999 (aged 26) 8 South Africa Golden Lions Women
Yonela Ngxingolo Prop (1998-03-03)3 March 1998 (aged 27) 35 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Babalwa Latsha Prop (1994-03-31)31 March 1994 (aged 31) 36 Unattached
Nombuyekezo Mdliki Prop (2002-03-19)19 March 2002 (aged 23) 5 South Africa Border Ladies
Nolusindiso Booi (c) Second row (1985-06-29)29 June 1985 (aged 40) 52 South Africa Western Province
Danelle Lochner Second row (1997-05-16)16 May 1997 (aged 28) 19 England Harlequins
Nomsai Mokwai Second row (1992-08-30)30 August 1992 (aged 32) 13 South Africa Western Province
Anathi Qolo Second row (1998-02-21)21 February 1998 (aged 27) 9 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Vainah Ubisi Second row (2003-02-20)20 February 2003 (aged 22) 18 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Aseza Hele Back row (1994-11-26)26 November 1994 (aged 30) 28 South Africa Boland Dames
Catha Jacobs Back row (1998-06-02)2 June 1998 (aged 27) 22 Unattached
Lerato Makua Back row (1999-12-07)7 December 1999 (aged 25) 15 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Sinazo Mcatshulwa Back row (1996-12-24)24 December 1996 (aged 28) 38 Unattached
Sizophila Solontsi Back row (1992-03-09)9 March 1992 (aged 33) 28 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Faith Tshauke Back row (1995-12-16)16 December 1995 (aged 29) 3 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Unam Tose Scrum-half (2000-05-03)3 May 2000 (aged 25) 27 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Tayla Kinsey Scrum-half (1993-09-05)5 September 1993 (aged 31) 40 South Africa Sharks Women
Libbie Janse van Rensburg Fly-half (1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 30) 27 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Mary Zulu Fly-half (2002-12-06)6 December 2002 (aged 22) 15 South Africa Sharks Women
Zintle Mpupha Centre (1993-12-25)25 December 1993 (aged 31) 26 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Aphiwe Ngwevu Centre (1998-05-14)14 May 1998 (aged 27) 27 South Africa Border Ladies
Chumisa Qawe Centre (1999-11-15)15 November 1999 (aged 25) 22 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Eloise Webb Centre (1996-03-05)5 March 1996 (aged 29) 17 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Jakkie Cilliers Wing (2000-10-30)30 October 2000 (aged 24) 19 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Ayanda Malinga Wing (1998-06-23)23 June 1998 (aged 27) 13 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Maceala Samboya Wing (1999-07-30)30 July 1999 (aged 26) 4 South Africa Boland Dames
Byrhandré Dolf Fullback (2003-07-04)4 July 2003 (aged 22) 22 South Africa Bulls Daisies
Nadine Roos Fullback (1996-05-09)9 May 1996 (aged 29) 18 Unattached

Crew

Head coach Swys de Bruin
Assistant coaches Lungisa Kama, Eddie Myners
World Rugby Intern coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt
Team manager Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe
Team doctor Dr Moshe Magethi
Physiotherapists Reagan Cele, Lezane Ward
Conditioning coach Naasier Parker
Performance coach Dr Bianca Joseph
Dietitian Robyn Moore
Analyst Gillian Bourke
High performance manager Lynne Cantwell
Media manager J.J. Harmse

Results

For the full list of all Springbok Women matches:

See also: List of South Africa women's national rugby union team matches

World Ranking

Rugby World Ranking per year end [7]

World Ranking
Year Ranking Points Matches Won Lost Draw ΣMatches ΣWon ΣLost ΣDraw
2004 26 46 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 -
2005 24 48 2 1 1 - 4 1 3 -
2006 21 53.99 7 2 5 - 11 3 8 -
2007 21 53.99 - - - - 11 3 8 -
2008 21 53.99 - - - - 11 3 8 -
2009 20 54.99 4 - 3 1 15 3 11 1
2010 11 69.06 9 6 3 - 24 9 14 1
2011 10 70.72 4 1 3 - 28 10 17 1
2012 11 70.72 - - - - 28 10 17 1
2013 11 70.72 5 1 4 - 33 11 21 1
2014 12 68.51 6 1 5 - 39 12 26 1
2015 12 68.51 - - - - 39 12 26 1
2016 12 68.51 - - - - 39 12 26 1
2017 13 68.51 - - - - 39 12 26 1
2018 12 67.98 3 - 3 - 42 12 29 1
2019 14 63.39 6 3 3 - 48 15 32 1
2020 13 63.39 - - - - 48 15 32 1
2021 13 63.39 4 2 2 - 52 17 34 1
2022 13 64.50 - - - - 52 17 34 1
Total - - 52 17 34 1 33% 67% 0%

World Cup results

Women's
World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 rankings as of 4 August 2025[8]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  England 97.56
2 Steady  Canada 89.77
3 Steady  New Zealand 88.74
4 Steady  France 85.92
5 Steady  Ireland 79.17
6 Increase2  Australia 76.31
7 Decrease2  Italy 76.06
8 Decrease2  Scotland 75.33
9 Steady  Wales 72.18
10 Steady  United States 72.05
11 Steady  Japan 68.83
12 Steady   68.04
13 Steady  Spain 63.31
14 Steady  Fiji 59.98
15 Steady  Samoa 59.72
16 Steady  Hong Kong 57.56
17 Steady  Netherlands 57.42
18 Steady  Russia 55.10
19 Steady  Kazakhstan 53.88
20 Steady  Kenya 50.68
*Change from the previous week
Rugby World Cup
Year Round Position GP W D L PF PA
South Africa was not invited to any of the World Cups between 1991 and 2002
Canada 2006 Ninth play-off 12th 5 0 0 5 30 258
England 2010 Ninth play-off 10th 5 2 0 3 60 166
France 2014 Plate semi-final 10th 5 1 0 4 34 176
Ireland 2017 Did Not Enter
New Zealand 2021[9] Pool Stage — 3 0 0 3 22 136
England 2025 Qualified
Australia 2029 TBD
United States 2033
Total 4/9 10th† 18 3 0 15 146 736
  Champion   Runner-up   Third place   Fourth place
* Tied placing † Best placing Home venue


Results summary

See also List of South Africa women's national rugby union team matches

Full Internationals per country (Last updated 12 July 2025)
Opponent First game Played Won Drawn Lost Percentage
 Australia 2006 4 0 0 4 0%
 Cameroon 2023 2 2 0 0 100%
 Canada 2009 6 0 0 6 0%
 England 2005 6 0 0 6 0%
 Fiji 2022 1 0 0 1 0%
 France 2009 5 0 1 4 0%
 Ireland 2006 1 0 0 1 0%
 Italy 2018 3 0 0 3 0%
 Japan 2022 3 2 0 1 66.67%
 Kazakhstan 2006 4 3 0 1 75%
 Kenya 2019 7 7 0 0 100%
 Madagascar 2019 3 3 0 0 100%
 Namibia 2022 1 1 0 0 100%
 Netherlands 2006 2 2 0 0 100%
 New Zealand 2010 1 0 0 1 0%
 Samoa 2006 3 1 1 1 66.67%
 Scotland 2010 5 2 0 3 40%
 Spain 2014 9 6 0 3 66.67%
 Uganda 2013 3 3 0 0 100%
 United States 2009 6 1 0 5 16.67%
 Wales 2004 8 2 0 6 25%
 Zimbabwe 2022 1 1 0 0 100%
Summary 2004 83 36 1 45 43.37%

See also

Players

References

  1. ^ "Expanding women's game a priority for SA Rugby". Rugby Afrique. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Springbok Women Qualify for 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup". Rugby Africa. Johannesburg: Rugby Africa. 18 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Springbok Women". SA Rugby. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Bok Women 'not just participants' at World Cup". SA Rugby magazine. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Booi leads experienced squad to Women's RWC 2025". Springboks Rugby. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Booi leads experienced Springbok Women squad to RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  7. ^ "World Rugby Ranking (Women)". World Rugby.
  8. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  9. ^ Due to the Global Covid pandemic this World Cup took place in 2022
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