Springbok Women hand rising star chance on European tour

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Naima Hlatshwayo has been handed a huge opportunity to make her mark on the international stage after being called up to replace injured Zintle Mpupha in the Springbok Women squad for their European tour.

The 20-year-old centre is the only new addition to the group that faced the Black Ferns last weekend, but her inclusion comes at an exciting time for South African women’s rugby as the Springbok Women prepare to launch the new WXV Global Series with three Tests against Wales, Italy and Spain.

Hlatshwayo is the only player in the tour squad that was not involved in preparations for the Test against New Zealand, but the 20-year-old centre from the Nellmapius Rugby Club did make her Test debut at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi earlier this year, scoring tries in two of her three Tests. She missed out on an opportunity in the two-Test series against USA in July due to injury.

The rest of the squad members are well experienced to the rigours of Test rugby, with team captain, Babalwa Latsha (44), one of three players with more than 40 caps, while there are also a core group of eight players in the 30-40 caps bracket.

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After their final training session in Stellenbosch on Friday, September expressed satisfaction on the durability and experience of the selected squad.

“We have been building towards this tour for a while now, first with the introduction of new players at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, then the USA incoming Tests, the tour to Fiji, and last weekend’s match against the Black Ferns,” said September.

“It was a pity to lose Zintle, but at the same time, this creates a great opportunity for Naima, who was part of our squad in Kenya and was in the USA squad, but unfortunately injured at the time.

“The core of our squad has more than 20 caps, which reflects on our wider plan to build experience towards the next World Cup in 2029, while those with 10 caps or fewer point to our plans to bring in players that have been knocking on the door.”

September believes the squad can continue the good form shown this year: “We have won six of our eight Tests played this year, but we now step into the WXV Global Series, where you are playing the best of the best.

“We welcome that challenge too. Every fixture matters and will be delivering meaningful international rugby every year and that is what makes it so exciting to be part of this global spectacle.”

The squad will depart from Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. The tour kicks off with a Test against Wales in Cardiff on September 18, followed by Tests against Italy in Pordenone (September 26) and Spain in Seville (October 4) before the South Africans return home for two matches against Ireland in Cape Town (October 24 and 31).

Springbok Women WXV Global Series squad:

Backs:
Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 30 caps, 81 points (8 tries, 19 conversions, 1 penalty goal),
Jakkie Cilliers (Rugby Club Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 26 caps, 157 points (11 tries, 42 conversions, 6 penalty goals)
Alichia Arries (Western Province) – 10 caps, 25 points (5 tries),
Maceala Samboya (Boland Dames) – 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 36 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Boland Dames) – 3 caps, 0 points
Naima Hlatshwayo (Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Patience Mokone (SA Rugby contracted) – 5 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (SA Rugby contracted) – 1 cap, 15 points (3 tries)
Ayanda Malinga (SA Rugby contracted) – 20 caps, 85 points (17 tries),
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (SA Rugby contracted) – 35 caps, 221 points (14 tries, 56 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion)
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 9 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)

Forwards:
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 47 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 16 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Babalwa Latsha (captain, Western Province) – 44 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 41 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
Anushka Groenewald (Western Province) – 11 caps, 0 points
Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 18 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 25 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Nomsa Mokwai (Western Province) – 20 caps, 0 points
Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 31 caps, 5 points (1 try);
Sizophila Solontsi (SA Rugby contracted) – 36 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies) – 9 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 20 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Logan Welman (Western Province) – 6 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Aseza Hele (Boland Dames) – 35 caps, 85 points (17 tries)

Springbok Women fixtures – WXV Global Series tour:

Wales v South Africa
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

Italy v South Africa
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Venue: Stadio Omero Tognon, Pordenone

Spain v South Africa
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Venue: Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja, Seville