The usual suspects were at it again at the start of the 2024 edition of the SA Rugby Women's First Division tournament with last year's finalist, SWD Eagirls, starting with an impressive victory away from home. The Southern Cape side won 41-24 against Valke Women in Kempton Park.
There was drama in Cape Town and Johannesburg with last minute scores impacting on the final results in tightly contested round nine matches of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division.
The Vodacom Bulls held their nerve in a nail-biting Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-final against Leinster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday for a 20-25 victory and watched on as the Glasgow Warriors defeated defending champions Munster at Thomond Park to earn their first home grand final in the competition in a regular season.
The Currie Cup First Division kicked off in exciting fashion for champions Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Eastern Province Elephants and the Leopards, who were all victorious in their respective away games.
The match between DHL Western Province and Sanlam Boland Dames highlights another intriguing round of the SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division, with this coastal derby a straight shoot-out for second spot on the log.
The Carling Currie Cup First Division for 2024 kicks off with a bang on Saturday, when the Valke host defending champions Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in a rematch of last year’s final at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, in one of three opening-round matches.
The Junior Springbok squad for the forthcoming World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Cape Town was announced, with Zachary Porthen – one of five players who will feature in the tournament for a second time – named as the captain of the team.
Zain Davids and Shilton van Wyk return to the Springbok Sevens squad that will contest the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco from 21-23 June.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was pleased with the bedrock laid at the first week of the national training camp in Pretoria and was satisfied that they have a solid base to build from as the squad prepares to face Wales in the opening Test of the season at Twickenham next week Saturday.
The SA Rugby Women's First Division kicks off in three major rugby centers of the country on Saturday with all squads well aware of the possibilities of this journey for the team and individual players in the next couple of months.