Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said her team will enter Loftus Versfeld with excitement and determination when they face Canada on Saturday, in the first Test between the two countries on South African soil.
Zintle Mpupha and Micke Gunter will make starting returns to the Springbok Women team to face Canada at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, with both facing the North Americans for the first time as well.
Having played against most of the Canadian team on a regular basis in England, Springbok Women utility forward Catha Jacobs is in a good position to act as soundboard on her team’s opponents for Saturday’s Test in Pretoria.
Very few women's players – if anyone – have studied the Loftus Versfeld uprights with more intent in recent years that Springbok Women and Bulls Daisies kicking ace, Jakkie Cilliers.
The Springbok Women will face one of their toughest assignments in recent years when they take on Canada next month, with a squad of 26 players named to assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday for the first Test.
There was relief but also pride that the Springbok Women executed their mandate in Madagascar at the 2025 Rugby Africa Women's Cup, returning home victorious after wins over Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar, resulting in another continental title and trophy for the South Africans.
Former Junior Springbok Women’s captain Leigh Fortuin and flanker Nobuhle Mjwara will earn their first starts for South Africa in the final match of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2025 against Madagascar at Stade Makis in Antananarivo on Sunday.
The Springbok Women left Stade Makis in Antananarivo with smiles on their faces, knowing that much was gained from their gutsy victory over Kenya in the second round of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar.
The Springbok Women coaches have named an unchanged starting team from their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup opener for their round two clash against Kenya at Stade Makis in Antananarivo on Wednesday.
The Springbok Women started the defence of the Rugby Africa Women's Cup the way the coaching staff hoped they would, scoring heaps of tries while a number of new caps could also get a taste of Test match rugby.