'I need to get with the programme': Bok legend Japie Mulder on women's rugby
EXCLUSIVE: With three sons and one daughter, Springbok legend Japie Mulder never expected his only daughter to follow in his rugby footsteps.
But at just 19, Jané Mulder is doing exactly that – and beginning to carve out her own path in the green and gold since her dad made history in 1995 by winning South Africa’s first World Cup trophy.
“It has been 30 years, so it’s about time now,” Japie Mulder told Rugby365 when asked about his daughter’s developing rugby career.
Her latest step came with a call-up to the BlitzBoks Women’s squad for the World Championship in Hong Kong, where South Africa claimed one of the standout results of the tournament with a 19-5 win over Great Britain Sevens.
Although Mulder did not feature on the field, her inclusion in the squad signals her rapid rise through the ranks.
Mulder started her rugby career just two years ago with Golden Lions Women and was then selected for the Junior Springbok Women’s squad. In 2025, she got a Sevens call-up, where she trained with the Springbok Women’s Sevens and was included in the ‘A’ side that competed at the Dubai Sevens International Invitational tournament.
Like many of her peers, Mulder played netball, hockey and athletics at school, but coming from a rugby household, she was bound to find her way to the oval ball according to her dad.
“She was 16 when she said she wanted to play rugby,” The 1995 World Cup winner Mulder told Rugby365.
“We looked for clubs, but there were none available, so she left it.”
Unbeknownst to him, that wasn’t the end of the story.
“In matric, when she was at Helpmekaar College here in Braamfontein, right next to Wits, and without telling me, in the afternoons after school, she used to walk over and train with the Wits ladies. She did it for about a month.
“And then after about a month, she came to me and said, ‘I want to tell you something.’ I said, ‘What?’ She said, ‘I’ve started playing rugby, and I need to play this weekend,’ and just wanted to know if it was OK with me. And I was like, what? So yeah, she did it on her own.
“In that first month, she just wanted to see what it’s all about and if she enjoys it. But she loved it. And she started playing for Wits that same year while she was still at school.
“I had to give her special permission to play.
“Since then, she has signed for UP-Tuks and is playing Sevens.
“It’s still early days. She hasn’t proved or played herself into anything yet, but she’s in the system. So that’s already a big bonus.”
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The 56-year-old Mulder admitted he never envisioned his daughter playing rugby.
“It’s not actually by accident – she grew up with rugby, with her brothers, and we watch rugby every weekend. So, she hasn’t got a choice.
“But if you asked me two or three years ago if I would see her playing rugby, I would have said no way. It’s never easy when your daughters play rugby, but it’s just me – I suppose I need to get with the programme.
“It’s obviously one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
“It’s still a little bit difficult to comprehend. But as long as she enjoys it, I’ll support her. I’m really proud of what she’s achieved so far.”
That adjustment mirrors a broader shift within the sport.
Women’s rugby continues to grow globally, but in South Africa, challenges remain. With only the Bulls Daisies operating as a professional outfit, opportunities are still limited.
“In Pretoria, the women’s rugby programme is quite big. But as for the Lions, I think they can put a lot more effort in.
“I can’t speak for any other provinces, and I don’t know how strong their programmes are or at what level they operate. But I do believe here at the Lions, they’re probably a little bit behind.
“It’s difficult to get ladies playing. But I think the more investment they put into the programmes, the more women will start playing.”
He believes financial backing will be key if South Africa hopes to compete with leading nations like New Zealand and Australia.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done by South Africa to get women’s rugby up to the standards of Australia and New Zealand, because they’re obviously the top-tier sides.
“We’re far off from that. But I don’t know if it’s a funding issue or if finances aren’t available to develop the sport quickly. I do think they need to put in a lot more effort to grow the game, because I believe we’ve got the players. Rugby is a big sport in our country, and if the effort is there, even the women can reach the level the men are at now.”
However, beyond resources, perception remains a significant hurdle in South Africa.
“Most men frown upon women’s rugby. They say it doesn’t make sense. It’s not normal,” Mulder said.
“But it’s a worldwide thing, and probably one of the reasons we are behind is perception.
“People tend to think it’s a man’s sport. But in most other sports, women are participating at all levels.
“So, it is different seeing women in such a physical game. But I’ll also need to get used to it. I do sometimes think, ‘my little girl is going to get hurt,’ but if they are conditioned properly and the programmes are right, injuries can be minimised.”
Mulder believes that if Jané had been playing rugby from a young age, her early injury, when she broke her collarbone, might have been avoided, as she would have been more comfortable taking contact.
“I know in the UK and Australia, women’s rugby is part of the culture now. People are used to it and they support it.
“Look at New Zealand – they are at another level. The same with Australia.
“That’s because the public has accepted it and supports it. The unions have also backed it, with sponsorship and funding going into women’s rugby.”
Despite the challenges, Mulder is optimistic about the direction of the women’s game in South Africa.
The influence of experienced figures such as Swys de Bruin has already made a noticeable impact.
“Like anything in life, it comes down to the effort and time you put in. If the people backing the sport believe in it, things will start happening.
“We’ve got a lot of knowledgeable rugby people in this country. Look at the difference Swys de Bruin made when he came in as performance coach for the Bok Women in 2024 – that was within a couple of months.
“So, if you get the right people in place to grow the sport, the sky’s the limit.
“South African sportspeople can compete at any level – it just comes down to the support and effort behind them.”
