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
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/

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 22 September, South Africa announced their 30-member squad to WXV2.[5]

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Lindelwa Gwala Hooker (1997-08-24)24 August 1997 (aged 27) 33 Ealing Trailfinders Women
Roseline Botes Hooker (1999-11-25)25 November 1999 (aged 24) 20 DHL Western Province
Micke Günter Hooker (1998-10-25)25 October 1998 (aged 25) 8 Bulls Daisies
Azisa Mkiva Prop (1999-02-09)9 February 1999 (aged 25) 10 DHL Western Province
Babalwa Latsha Prop (1994-03-31)31 March 1994 (aged 30) 30 Harlequins Women
Sanelisiwe Charlie Prop (2000-05-01)1 May 2000 (aged 24) 19 Bulls Daisies
Yonela Ngxingolo Prop (1998-03-03)3 March 1998 (aged 26) 29 Bulls Daisies
Danelle Lochner Second row (1997-05-16)16 May 1997 (aged 27) 13 Harlequins Women
Vainah Ubisi Second row (2003-03-20)20 March 2003 (aged 21) 15 Bulls Daisies
Nolusindiso Booi (c) Second row (1985-06-29)29 June 1985 (aged 39) 46 DHL Western Province
Aseza Hele Back row (1994-11-26)26 November 1994 (aged 29) 22 Boland Dames
Sinazo Mcatshulwa Back row (1996-12-24)24 December 1996 (aged 27) 32 DHL Western Province
Sizophila Solontsi Back row (1992-03-09)9 March 1992 (aged 32) 22 Bulls Daisies
Lusanda Dumke Back row (1996-09-11)11 September 1996 (aged 28) 30 Bulls Daisies
Anathi Qolo Back row (1998-02-21)21 February 1998 (aged 26) 4 Bulls Daisies
Catha Jacobs Back row (1998-02-06)6 February 1998 (aged 26) 16 Leicester Tigers Women
Tayla Kinsey Scrum-half (1993-09-05)5 September 1993 (aged 31) 36 Sharks Women
Felicia Jacobs Scrum-half (1998-04-07)7 April 1998 (aged 26) 6 Boland Dames
Unam Tose Scrum-half (2000-05-03)3 May 2000 (aged 24) 20 Bulls Daisies
Libbie Janse van Rensburg Fly-half (1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 29) 23 Bulls Daisies
Byrhandrè Dolf Fly-half (2003-07-04)4 July 2003 (aged 21) 14 Bulls Daisies
Chumisa Qawe Centre (1999-11-15)15 November 1999 (aged 24) 16 Bulls Daisies
Eloise Webb Centre (1996-03-05)5 March 1996 (aged 28) 11 Border Ladies
Aphiwe Ngwevu Centre (1998-05-14)14 May 1998 (aged 26) 23 Border Ladies
Zintle Mpupha Centre (1993-12-25)25 December 1993 (aged 30) 21 Bulls Daisies
Jakkie Cilliers Wing (2000-10-30)30 October 2000 (aged 23) 14 Bulls Daisies
Ayanda Malinga Wing (1998-06-23)23 June 1998 (aged 26) 8 Bulls Daisies
Maria Tshiremba Wing (1995-12-29)29 December 1995 (aged 28) 0 Bulls Daisies
Maceala Samboya Wing 4 Boland Dames
Nadine Roos Fullback (1996-05-09)9 May 1996 (aged 28) 12 South Africa 7s

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 [6]

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 7 July 2025[7]
Rank Change* Team Points
1  England 97.56
2  Canada 89.77
3  New Zealand 88.74
4  France 85.92
5  Ireland 78.78
6  Australia 77.68
7  Scotland 76.56
8  Italy 75.23
9  United States 72.05
10  Wales 70.81
11  Japan 68.41
12   68.04
13  Spain 63.73
14  Netherlands 60.42
15  Fiji 59.98
16  Samoa 59.72
17  Hong Kong 57.56
18  Russia 55.10
19  Kazakhstan 53.88
20  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
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[8] 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 (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. ^ "Dumke declared fit for WXV 2 campaign". SA Rugby. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ "World Rugby Ranking (Women)". World Rugby.
  7. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. ^ Due to the Global Covid pandemic this World Cup took place in 2022
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