Bok Women take their fight beyond the rugby field
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springbok Women are no strangers to fighting for their place, both on and off the rugby field.
Now, they are using that fighting spirit to support an important cause beyond the sport.
The Bok Women have joined forces with Project Flamingo, supported by Engen SA, for “Make Room for Her” – a campaign bringing women’s sport and women’s health together around one simple message: every woman deserves to be seen, supported and cared for.
For the Springbok Women, the fight for space is familiar – room on the field, in the sporting conversation, in the media, in stadiums and for women’s rugby to grow.
Project Flamingo is fighting a different battle: creating room in clinics, on waiting lists and in treatment pathways, while ensuring women are heard and receive timely care.
To mark the launch of the campaign, Babalwa Latsha, Nadine Roos, Insaf Levy, Chumisa Qawe and Aimee Barrett-Theron met with Dr Liana Roodt, Founder and CEO of Project Flamingo, and the multidisciplinary care team at Groote Schuur Hospital’s breast clinic, where thousands of women are seen and cared for every year.
Barrett-Theron believes the partnership between the Bok Women and Project Flamingo is particularly meaningful.
In July, the record-breaking Test match referee confirmed that she would step down from officiating to focus on treatment for breast cancer.
Since then, she has been temporarily away from the international scene but has remained actively involved with the Bok Women.
Ahead of the Bok Women’s match against the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in September, she assisted the team with their scrums and other areas.
“This is really close to my heart,” Barrett-Theron stated.
“The two entities run along similar lines. On the field, we advocate for women in the rugby space, and Project Flamingo advocates in the medical space.
“It is important that we join forces and create a bigger, brighter future and more awareness.”
Springbok Women captain Babalwa Latsha shared the sentiments.
“It is such an important cause because it’s a problem that effect women.
“The education element is so important and now we are equipped with relevant information in our own team and also pass it on.”
