Springbok Women spark talks of Pacific Six Series
OPINION: The Springbok Women’s World Cup campaign has not only forced calls for change in South Africa, but it has also created a buzz within the Southern Hemisphere.
The Springbok Women booked their first-ever quarterfinal spot after impressive wins over Brazil and Italy in the pool stages.
The side suffered a defeat to France in the final group match, which set up a quarterfinal showdown with the Black Ferns.
And while the six-time champions New Zealand entered as heavy favourites, the Springboks delivered a brave performance – holding the Black Ferns to 10-all at halftime and winning the respect of fans worldwide.
That performance left South Africans proud and sparked calls for the governing body to fast-track professionalisation and provide greater opportunities for women in rugby.
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In the aftermath of the quarterfinal match and as the team arrived back in South Africa, SA Rugby quickly moved to initiate a new tournament, namely the Women’s Club Championship, while the U20 Women’s Tournament will also feature more participating teams than ever.
Both tournaments will take place in the week of October 5-10 in Gauteng – the Women’s Club Championship at Alberton Rugby Club and the U20 Women’s Tournament at Queens High School.
The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship – the first of its kind in South Africa – will see 16 club teams (drawn from all 15 provincial unions plus one wildcard) play each other over three match days.
While this is a step in the right direction, in 2026 there could be an opportunity to relook the format and perhaps extend it over a longer period.
On the international front, World Rugby has revamped the WXV Series, which will now feature the top 18 national teams.
The top 12 teams (Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA, Wales) will compete in a home-and-away, cross-regional touring model within a newly aligned September – October international window.
Meanwhile, teams 13-18 (Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa, Spain) will play their fixtures in a single destination in 2026 and 2028, funded by World Rugby.
And while these developments are to be commended, South Africa’s spirited display against New Zealand has ignited talks of expanding the Pacific Four Series.
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Following the quarterfinal clash, Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin was asked what his thoughts were on the Pacific Four Series possibly developing into a Pacific Six Series, he quickly replied: “Now you’re talking, someone make a note of it.”
A week later, Black Ferns head coach Allan Bunting also called for more games for his team – leaving the door open once again for talks of a Pacific Six Series.
Currently, the Pacific Four features New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and USA. Adding Fiji and South Africa would raise the competition’s profile and intensity.
Fiji, similar to SA, have shown that they can keep up with the prominent teams, beating Six Nations side Wales in the final pool match at Sandy Park.
While logistics could mean the Springboks play abroad initially, the payoff would be regular top-tier competition – a vital step in growing the women’s game.
