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IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Training camps build cohesion, fitness for Springbok Women as crunch Africa Cup looms
Simamkele Namba Simamkele Namba will be one of the more experienced players for the Springbok Women when they head to Madagascar to defend their Africa title. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Next month's Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar is shaping up as a good indication of the depth available in the Springbok Women's system and offers valuable game-time for some players who have been starved of action. The coaches have also praised the effort the players put in during the two-week camp that concluded in Stellenbosch on Friday. 'Most of these players finished their season at the end of March, so these camps are important for us to get cohesion in the group, while at the same time making sure there are no issues with their fitness and match readiness,' said assistant coach Franzel September. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The short-term goal is preparing for next month's tournament. The longer-term focus remains on the World Cup in England in August and September. There will also be crucial matches against Canada and a Black Ferns XV as part of their final tune-up for the showpiece. The team had a week's preparation in Cape Town, before moving to the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport for five days of high-intensity training. September feels the effort from the players was real. 'I have to give credit to the players, who really responded well to what we asked of them this week,' he said. 'We had 48 players here and 28 of those were named to represent us at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar in early June, so they started working together as a squad with myself and coach Bafana Nhleko, while the other 20 were drilled by coach Swys (de Bruin) and coach Laurian (Johannes-Haupt). 'All the coaches are happy with the responses we got from our groups.' Bulls Daisies lock Anathi Qolo will lead the Springbok Women to Madagascar, where they will defend their title next month against Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar. The three Tests will all be played at Stade Makis in Antananarivo, on June 7, 11 and 15. The squad for Africa will get together on May 28 for an assembly camp before flying to Antananarivo. September feels they were able to lay a good foundation this week for the matches, that are expected to be physical encounters. Meanwhile, this past Wednesday marked 100 days to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off. 'The focus remains the Rugby World Cup and before that the four matches against Canada and Black Ferns XV, but before that happens the three matches in Madagascar are the important ones for us. 'I liked what I saw from the new players that came into the squad, and they responded well this week,' September concluded.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Springbok Women set to defend Rugby Africa title with Anathi Qolo at the helm in Madagascar
Simamkele Namba will be one of the more experienced players for the Springbok Women when they head to Madagascar to defend their Africa title. Image: BackpagePix Lock Anathi Qolo will take the helm of the Springbok Women's team and lead them into battle at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar next month. The South Africans will defend their continental title against formidable opponents like Uganda, Kenya, and the host nation, but will gain invaluable experience ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year. Twelve players are uncapped, but there is still enough experience within the side to retain their title. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Swys de Bruin, Springbok Women's Performance coach, says they are looking to expand their player base ahead of the World Cup, but want to give some experienced players enough game time to stake a claim for the tournament in England. 'We see this continental tournament in a very positive light, hence our decision to expand our playing experience and player base by selecting some of the best young talent in the country but also provide a backbone of experienced players who are still in Rugby World Cup contention,' De Bruin said. 'The tournament is a testing one, with short turnarounds against physical teams, but this is an ideal way to make sure we have a fit and able second line of selection options as well as giving some senior players valuable game time.' While the team will be in Madagascar, De Bruin and Laurian Johannes-Haupt will look after 20 players at a position-specific camp in Stellenbosch, with the focus on the Tests against Canada and the international friendlies against the Black Ferns XV. 'All of this is part of the wider Rugby World Cup preparations and decided upon by the management during our early planning stages. Our progress on that is good and I think we are onto something special.' On the Qolo appointment, De Bruin added that the Bulls Daisies forward has been a wonderful asset to the side since joining last season. 'Her rugby intelligence and willingness to work for the team and her obvious ability as an outstanding lineout jumper are additions to her natural leadership qualities.' The team will assemble in Johannesburg on 28 May before heading to Madagascar. Bok squad for the 2025 Rugby Africa Women's Cup: Props: Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions) – 5 caps, 0 points, Sinothile Bhengu (Sharks Women) – uncapped, Amanda Ndlovu (Sharks Women) – uncapped, Anuchka Ekron (Western Province) uncapped, Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 1 cap, 0 points. Hookers: Luchell Hanekom (Western Province) – 4 caps, 0 points, Roseline Botes (Western Province) – 21 caps, 45 points (9 tries), Anushka Groenewald (Western Province) – uncapped. Locks: Anathi Qolo – captain (Bulls Daisies) – 6 caps, 0 points, Nomsa Mokwai (Western Province) – 4 caps, 0 points, Dineo Ndlhovu (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped. Loose forwards: Nompumelelo Mathe (Boland Dames) – 20 caps; 25 points (5 tries), Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – uncapped, Bronishia Hess (Western Province) – uncapped, Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped, Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 0 points. Scrumhalves: Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies)- 23 caps, 5 points (1 try), Felicia Jacobs (Boland Dames) – 7 caps, 15 points (3 tries), Insaaf Levy (Western Province) – uncapped. Flyhalves: Mary Zulu (Women) – 12 caps, 14 points (7 conversions), Anja le Roux (Western Province) – uncapped. Centres: Aphiwe Ngwevu (Ladies) – 24 caps, 40 points (8 tries), Simamkele Namba (Springbok Women's Sevens) – 11 caps, 40 points (8 tries), Leigh Fortuin (Western Province) – uncapped. Outside backs: Chuma Qawe (Daisies) – 11 caps, 0 points, Byrhandrѐ Dolf (Daisies) – 17 caps, 15 points (3 tries), Patience Mokone (Daisies) – uncapped, Nomawethu Mabenge (Boland Dames) – 18 caps, 70 points (14 tries). Management: Bafana Nhleko (coach), Franzel September (coach), Zwonaka Mbedzi (analyst), Dr. Moshe Magethi (team doctor), Lezane Ward (physiotherapist), Thandiswa Nxomani (team manager).
