Roos not closing door on return to SA as Bok Women go from zero to 10
The rise of women’s rugby in South Africa is rapid, and according to Nadine Roos, there is no better time to be a female player.
The 29-year-old dual international was among the big winners at the SA Rugby Awards in Cape Town, claiming the inaugural Women’s Sevens Player of the Year accolade while also being crowned Women’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Roos also won the top award in 2022.
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“Claiming the Women’s Sevens award, which is a first of its kind, is incredible and it’s a testament to the growth of women’s rugby in South Africa,” Roos told reporters at the prestigious ceremony in Cape Town.
The dynamic playmaker is currently in Cape Town with the national women’s sevens squad, preparing for the upcoming HSBC Sevens Challenger Series tournaments.
South Africa sit second on the standings after the first of three tournaments, played in Kenya, and are determined to finish top and secure promotion to the HSBC World Sevens Series.
“We have been training really hard. Coach Cecil Afrika has been doing an amazing job with the squad.
“He knows how difficult it is to retain your position in an elite tournament, and he understands the hard work that is needed. It has been great working with him.”
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Roos continues to juggle commitments between sevens and the 15-a-side format, but admits she finds it impossible to choose between the two disciplines.
Instead, her focus remains on helping grow the women’s game as a whole.
The Springbok Women face a demanding year ahead, highlighted by a historic series against the Black Ferns.
The matches will form part of double-headers alongside the Springboks’ Tests against the All Blacks during the highly anticipated Greatest Rivalry tour.
The last time the sides met was in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup in England, where the Black Ferns brought an end to South Africa’s historic campaign.
Despite the challenge ahead, Roos believes the increased number of Test matches is a major step forward for the team.
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“It is an amazing time for us,” Roos said.
“If you look back a few years, there were no Test matches for the women’s game. Before we went to the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, we had no matches to prepare us, while last year we had five matches in which to warm up for the World Cup, plus we played some games at the end of the year.
“So to go, from five matches last year to ten is double in one year, it is exciting because it’s the only way we can grow and learn as players is by playing the game.”
Roos added that the increase in opportunities marks a turning point for women’s rugby in South Africa.
“Years back, we always moaned as players that we did not get game time, experience, and exposure, and now we have the game opportunities.
“It is a great time to be a female rugby player in South Africa and in the world currently. There are a lot of initiatives around growing the women’s game. The World Cup last year in England was just a statement of where the game will be going in the next five years.”
While she is currently plying her trade in Japan, Roos has not ruled out a return to South Africa.
“Currently, the sevens are keeping me busy, and it has given me a career, so now it’s time for me to give back to the system.
“Hopefully, if the sevens is in a better place, I can get an opportunity to sign with a club locally.”
The star has been keeping an eye on the Women’s Super League in South Africa. She believes it reflects the growing investment in the women’s game.
“I have not watched a lot of the games because of my sevens commitments, but from the matches that I’ve seen, it has been really impressive.
“There’s a lot of talent, and if we continue to build on the product, it will just improve.”
Meanwhile, Roos’ fellow dual international Byrhandré Dolf was named SA Women’s Young Player of the Year, another newly introduced category at the awards.
Bulls Daisies wing Patience Mokone walked away with the Women’s Provincial Player of the Year award after her outstanding performances during the side’s Women’s Premier Division three-peat.
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