Springbok Women's World Cup star returns for Fiji series
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Springbok Women have received a massive boost ahead of the historic tour to Fiji, as head coach Swys de Bruin continues with his two-squad system.
The Bok Women will face the Fijiana XV in two Tests, on 8 and 15 August in Suva and Lautoka, and Aseza Hele has been included in the 26-player squad.
The experienced No.8 missed both the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in May and the two-Test series against the USA Women’s Eagles earlier this month after having hand surgery, but she has been cleared to play and returns to the squad for the first time since her stellar Women’s Rugby World Cup performances in September last year.
Lindelwa Gwala, the most capped hooker, is also back in the squad after recovering from a calf injury that halted her participation in the Africa Cup and USA matches, while Patience Mokone and Zintle Mpupha, who also donned the national sevens jersey this year, also return to the squad.
Mpupha last played in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, while Mokone played in the 2025 Africa Cup.
Meanwhile Nadine Roos is still recovering from the injury and has not been included in the squad.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has included two uncapped players in the squad, in Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Maria Tshiremba, with both jumping codes, having played for the BlitzBok Women’s this year.
A group of players who form part of the wider squad for the 2026 season will remain at their Stellenbosch base during the tour for strength and conditioning rehabilitation, including Sanelisiwe Charlie, Micke Gunter, Danelle Lochner, Logan Welman, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, Ayanda Malinga, and Aphiwe Ngwevu, who were all involved in the USA series.
De Bruin said: “This will be a challenging trip, but for us in 2026, it is all about pushing beyond comfort zones and in this case, time zones.
“It is a long way to travel, but in the wider plan, that is what we will have to do when the next World Cup is played in Australia too.”
On his squad selections, De Bruin said Lamprecht and Tshiremba showed their fifteens skills in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League in the past.
“Both played well on the sevens circuit this year, so I am excited to see their skill set enhancing our style of play.
“Also, Aseza and Lindelwa bring so much experience, which will be needed as we are without some experienced players currently in the rehab programme.”
The squad will depart for Fiji on Wednesday. Bok Women assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September will take charge of the touring squad on this trip, while De Bruin remains in Stellenbosch to work with the extended squad, like they did with the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya earlier this year.
South Africa Women squad:
Forwards:
Babalwa Latsha (captain, Western Province) – 42 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 12 caps, 0 points
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 44 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Thandile Mazwi (Western Province) – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 38 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
Anushka Groenewald (Western Province) – 8 caps, 0 points
Nomsa Mokwai (Western Province) – 17 caps, 0 points
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – 6 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 28 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 20 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Aseza Hele (Boland Dames) – 32 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies) – 7 caps, 0 points
Backs:
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 6 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Felicia Jacobs (Boland Dames) – 11 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Eloise Webb (Boland Dames) – 22 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Boland Dames) – uncapped
Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
Patience Mokone (Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Boland Dames) – 8 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Alichia Arries (Western Province) – 7 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Byrhandré Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 64 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
