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

Nickname	Springbok Women
Emblem	Springbok
Union	South African Rugby Union
Head coach	Swys de Bruin
Captain	Nolusindiso Booi
Most caps	Nolusindiso Booi
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	10 (as of 3 September 2025)
Highest	10 (2011, 2025)
First international
South Africa 5–8 Wales   ( Port Elizabeth, South Africa; 29 May 2004)
Biggest win
South Africa 128–3 Namibia   ( Cape Town, South Africa; 23 June 2022)
Biggest defeat
England 101–0 South Africa   ( East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005)
World Cup
Appearances	5 (First in 2006)
Best result	Quarter-finals (2025)
Website	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 five 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]

They made their maiden knockout round when they made the quarterfinals at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. ^[5]

Players

Recent squad

On 9 August, South Africa named their final 32-player squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. ^{[6] [7]}

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	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	Western Province
Sanelisiwe Charlie	Prop	(2000-05-01)1 May 2000 (aged 25)	26	Bulls Daisies
Xoliswa Khuzwayo	Prop	(1999-06-17)17 June 1999 (aged 26)	8	Golden Lions Women
Yonela Ngxingolo	Prop	(1998-03-03)3 March 1998 (aged 27)	35	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	Border Ladies
Nolusindiso Booi (c)	Second row	(1985-06-29)29 June 1985 (aged 40)	52	Western Province
Danelle Lochner	Second row	(1997-05-16)16 May 1997 (aged 28)	19	Harlequins
Nomsai Mokwai	Second row	(1992-08-30)30 August 1992 (aged 32)	13	Western Province
Anathi Qolo	Second row	(1998-02-21)21 February 1998 (aged 27)	9	Bulls Daisies
Vainah Ubisi	Second row	(2003-02-20)20 February 2003 (aged 22)	18	Bulls Daisies
Aseza Hele	Back row	(1994-11-26)26 November 1994 (aged 30)	28	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	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	Bulls Daisies
Faith Tshauke	Back row	(1995-12-16)16 December 1995 (aged 29)	3	Bulls Daisies
Unam Tose	Scrum-half	(2000-05-03)3 May 2000 (aged 25)	27	Bulls Daisies
Tayla Kinsey	Scrum-half	(1993-09-05)5 September 1993 (aged 31)	40	Sharks Women
Libbie Janse van Rensburg	Fly-half	(1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 30)	27	Bulls Daisies
Mary Zulu	Fly-half	(2002-12-06)6 December 2002 (aged 22)	15	Sharks Women
Zintle Mpupha	Centre	(1993-12-25)25 December 1993 (aged 31)	26	Bulls Daisies
Aphiwe Ngwevu	Centre	(1998-05-14)14 May 1998 (aged 27)	27	Border Ladies
Chumisa Qawe	Centre	(1999-11-15)15 November 1999 (aged 25)	22	Bulls Daisies
Eloise Webb	Centre	(1996-03-05)5 March 1996 (aged 29)	17	Bulls Daisies
Jakkie Cilliers	Wing	(2000-10-30)30 October 2000 (aged 24)	19	Bulls Daisies
Ayanda Malinga	Wing	(1998-06-23)23 June 1998 (aged 27)	13	Bulls Daisies
Maceala Samboya	Wing	(1999-07-30)30 July 1999 (aged 26)	4	Boland Dames
Byrhandré Dolf	Fullback	(2003-07-04)4 July 2003 (aged 22)	22	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 ^[8]

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

• v
• t
• e

Top 20 rankings as of 8 September 2025 ^[9]

Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		England	097.76
2		Canada	090.13
3		New Zealand	088.76
4		France	085.82
5		Ireland	078.79
6		Scotland	077.39
7		Australia	075.46
8		United States	072.90
9		Italy	072.37
10		South Africa	071.62
11	1	Japan	069.72
12	1	Wales	066.13
13	1	Fiji	063.98
14	1	Spain	062.42
15		Samoa	059.72
16		Hong Kong	057.56
17		Netherlands	057.42
18		Russia	055.10
19		Kazakhstan	053.88
20		Kenya	050.68
*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
2006	Ninth play-off	12th	5	0	0	5	30	258
2010	Ninth play-off	10th	5	2	0	3	60	166
2014	Plate semi-final	10th	5	1	0	4	34	176
2017	Did Not Enter
2021 [10]	Pool Stage	—	3	0	0	3	22	136
2025	Qualified
2029	TBD
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 (Correct to 31 August 2025)

Opponent	First game	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Percentage
Australia	2006	4	0	0	4	0%
Brazil	2025	1	1	0	0	100%
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	6	0	1	5	0%
Ireland	2006	1	0	0	1	0%
Italy	2018	4	1	0	3	25%
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	84	37	1	45	44.05%

See also

Players

• Lerato Makua
• Zintle Mpupha
• Simamkele Namba
• Nadine Roos
• Snenhlanhla Shozi
• Sizophila Solontsi
• Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe
• Eloise Webb
• Mandisa Williams

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. "Springbok Women make history, set for maiden World Cup QF". News24. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
6. "Booi leads experienced squad to Women's RWC 2025". Springboks Rugby. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
7. "Booi leads experienced Springbok Women squad to RWC 2025". Rugby World Cup. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
8. "World Rugby Ranking (Women)". World Rugby.
9. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
10. Due to the Global Covid pandemic this World Cup took place in 2022

External links

• Women's national team at SA Rugby official website