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 (55)
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current10 (as of 3 September 2025)
Highest10 (2011, 2025)
Lowest24 (2004)
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
Appearances5 (First in 2006)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2025)
Websitewww.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 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
Top 20 rankings as of 15 September 2025[9]
Rank Change* Team Points
1  England 97.76
2  Canada 90.13
3  New Zealand 88.76
4  France 86.42
5  Ireland 78.20
6  Scotland 77.39
7  Australia 75.46
8  United States 72.90
9  Italy 72.37
10  South Africa 71.62
11  Japan 69.72
12  Wales 66.13
13  Fiji 63.98
14  Spain 62.42
15  Samoa 59.72
16  Hong Kong 57.56
17  Netherlands 57.42
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[10] Pool Stage — 3 0 0 3 22 136
2025 Quarter-final — 4 2 0 2 122 133
2029 TBD
2033
Total 5/10 10th† 22 5 0 17 268 869
  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 2 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

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 15 September 2025.
  10. ^ Due to the Global Covid pandemic this World Cup took place in 2022
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