Bulls Daisies added 'fresh energy' for three-peat season

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As they begin preparations for their hunt for an unprecedented third successive SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division crown, the Bulls Daisies have returned to base to start their bold quest ahead of the new season.

The Daisies successfully defended their title with a second consecutive victory in the Final over Western Province in the capital, who were the only team in 2024 to beat the Daisies in their league fixture.

The feat wasn’t without challenges for head coach Hayden Groepes and his management group.

“We almost had to field 15 new caps at stages because of the international schedule, but those players came through well,” Groepes said, adding: “That is also because we received the necessary support from our local clubs who look after our identified emerging Daisies, that system proved pivotal in our campaign, and this franchise got to see great yields from it.

“I’m relieved that we could achieve the goal we set out for ourselves at the beginning of the year, and that was to go for the double.

“It was not always easy, but everyone pulled together, and we could do what we set out to. This new season, the ambition does not drop and the standard cannot be reduced.”

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The Daisies mentor added: “We return now knowing that we must be better than the previous season, and I am glad that we all return understanding that season 3 is more important than the first edition.”

The Daisies have added new faces to the coaching ranks with the addition of Bongiwe Nhleko and Zeenay Jordaan as assistant coaches to Groepes. The back-to-back champions have also added Owethu Sityata to the management cohort.

Sityata will head up the strength and conditioning department as the Tshwane side charges for more success.

Thando Manana, the Executive for Strategic Projects at the BBCo. stated the Daisies are meeting their milestones, and the bolstering of the management side is necessary if the trailblazers are to stay at the top.

“When we embarked on this project, we knew what milestones along the way we would need to meet for it to be a sustainable endeavour, and so far, we are right on par,” Manana said.

“We are now in the process of bringing to life the strategic evolution of the team from a management point of view, bringing in women who lead their respective departments in what will be a critical year for Women’s Rugby in South Africa if you look at the 2025 World Cup.”

Manana added: “We have brought in fresh energy that will hopefully add to the further growth of women’s rugby in the province and the country.

“We believe [as the executive] that this is the natural way of ensuring that we remain at the top, and the additions stood out as top-class candidates who showed a burning desire to be a part of our project. As individuals who possess the skillset that they do, we are confident that our players are in safe hands.

“I look forward to seeing them bring out the best out of our squad as we work together to achieve our bold goals for the coming season.”