26-04-2025
Nkowankowa rugby talent helps Springbok Women's Sevens to victory
TZANEEN – Local rugby talent Zandile Masuku has once again made her hometown proud after helping the Springbok Women's Sevens team secure a dominant victory at the final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series in Krakow, Poland.
Masuku, from Nkowankowa near Tzaneen, was part of the national squad that went unbeaten during the tournament held from April 11 to 12. The team's stellar performance has earned them a spot in the prestigious HSBC SVNS Playoff, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this May.
The South African side started strong on day one, defeating host nation Poland 29-10 in their opening match. They followed that with a commanding 45-0 win over Czechia and wrapped up the day with a 22-0 shutout against Argentina.
On the second day, the Springbok women maintained their form, overcoming African rivals Kenya 22-10 in the semi-final before once again besting Argentina 22-12 in the final.
Speaking to the Herald, Masuku expressed her pride in the team's achievement. 'I'm so happy we managed to win all our matches and qualify for the HSBC Sevens in the US. It's an incredible feeling,' she said.
Masuku's rugby journey began at DZJ Mtebule Secondary School in Nkowankowa. She later joined the Titans Women's Rugby Academy (TWRA) high-performance programme in 2020. Since then, she has earned a place on the SWD EaGirls provincial team and was named TWRA's Sevens Player of the Tournament at the 2021 Safari Sevens in Kenya. During that tournament, she played a key role in the academy's historic first international win over Zimbabwe.
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