Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has named his squad of 32 for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, which gets underway in England on 22 August.
South Africa, led at a second RWC by the most-capped Springbok Women’s player of all-time Nolusindiso Booi (pictured), face an opening Pool D match against tournament debutants Brazil in Northampton on 24 August, before further pool phase matches against Italy and France.
Nineteen of the 32 players have previous Rugby World Cup experience, among them vice-captain Babalwa Latsha, who has captained the Springbok Women in 14 tests, and the recent Black Ferns XV series.
Booi (2010, 2014, 2021) and Tayla Kinsey (2014, 2021) have the most Rugby World Cup experience in the squad, which boasts a combined total of 689 caps.
12 Springbok Women to make their RWC debut
Among the 19 forwards, eight are set to experience a Rugby World Cup for the first time. They are second-row Anathi Qolo, who captained the side at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in June, hooker Luchell Hanekom, props Xoliswa Khuzwayo and Nombuyekezo Mdliki, second rows Danelle Lochner and Vainah Ubisi and flanker Faith Tshauke, who made her test debut in Madagascar a few months ago.
Four of the 13 backs will represent South Africa at this level for the first time: wings Maceala Samboya and Ayanda Malinga, fly-half Mary Zulu and utility back Byrhandré Dolf are the newcomers in a back line stacked with players who have encountered the pressures of a Rugby World Cup before.
All 32 players featured either against Spain in April, in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, the two tests against Canada in July, or the two recent internationals against the Black Ferns XV.
“We used 49 players during the season where we played six test matches and four international friendlies, and I know we got the balance right,” said head coach De Bruin. “There will always be unfortunate players not selected, but as a coaching staff we are happy that we got the group we wanted.”
De Bruin said what excites him most are the combinations: “I believe that will push us towards the play-offs as we have so many options for each opponent, and that will boost our abilities. This selection is a culmination of hard work and sacrifice for the players, and I want to congratulate them. We all know the journeys each one travelled and for most, it was not easy.”
The squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 12 August and depart for England on Thursday, 14 August ahead of its first match against Brazil 10 days later.
South Africa squad
Forwards
Prop
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 10 points (2 tries) *
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 8 caps, 0 points)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *
Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain, unattached) – 36 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 5 caps, 0 points
Hooker
Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers Women, England) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Lindelwa Gwala (unattached) – 35 caps, 75 points (15 tries) *
Luchell Hanekom (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 0 points)
Second row
Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 52 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) –13 caps, 0 points
Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) – 9 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Back row
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 28 caps, 65 points (13 tries) *
Catha Jacobs (unattached) – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (unattached) – 38 caps, 55 points (11 tries) *
Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 28 caps, 45 points (9 tries) *
Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Backs
Scrum-half
Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion) *
Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 40 caps, 53 points (3 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals) *
Fly-half
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 209 points (12 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalties, 1 drop goal) *
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Centre
Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions) *
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 27 caps, 60 points (12 tries) *
Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries) *
Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 17 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *
Wing / Full-back
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 106 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 5 penalty goals) *
Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 13 caps, 65 points (13 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Utility back
Byrhandré Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 37 points (7 tries, 1 conversion)
Nadine Roos (unattached) – 18 caps, 35 points (5 tries, 5 conversions) *
* previous RWC experience
