Swys adds Rassie's hybrid blueprint to Bok Women

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Innovation has become synonymous with South African rugby, and it is no different in the women’s game.

The Springbok Women grabbed global attention with their remarkable 15-player line-out during their 2025 World Cup quarterfinal against the All Blacks.

Throughout the first half, backline stars Nadine Roos and Byrhandré Dolf were used as jumpers, leaving opponents and spectators alike stunned.

Now the Bok Women are preparing to unveil another tactical weapon – the hybrid player.

While many players can cover several positions within the backline or forward pack, only a select few possess the ability to switch seamlessly between the two.

Springbok Andre Esterhuizen has become the blueprint. What began as an experiment, with the midfielder packing down at flank during the Boks’ 54-7 victory over the Barbarians in Cape Town in June 2025, has quickly become another feature of Rassie Erasmus’ evolving game plan.

Now Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin is following suit.

Centre Aphiwe Ngwevu revealed that during one of the squad’s alignment camps she was told she would also be used as a loose forward.

“I loved the idea immediately,” Ngwevu said.

“I always say I am a centre playing like a forward, so I was very keen on the idea, as I think this will add to my value to the coaches as well.

“Which means I can still play for this team I have given so much of my life to, but that has given me so much back as well.”

Just four months ago, that future looked far less certain.

Despite earning 31 Test caps and scoring 13 tries for South Africa, Ngwevu feared her international career was slipping away.

Her Border Ladies side endured a miserable 2026 Pick n Pay Women’s Super League campaign, losing every match to finish bottom of the standings – a rare occurrence for one of South Africa’s traditional powerhouses.

“I was really down. I was trying my best for my team, but we just could not get going,” the 28-year-old centre explained.

“There were several factors involved, but what frustrated me the most was that, as the senior player in the squad, I could not make the difference to help us win. I also feared that my chances of being called up for the Springbok Women again would fade away because of that.”

Instead, De Bruin selected Ngwevu for South Africa’s youthful squad at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya.

Rather than viewing it as a step backwards, she embraced it as an opportunity to improve her conditioning, sharpen her mindset and remind the coaches exactly what she offers.

She made sure there was never much doubt who would start at inside centre against the USA at Ellis Park last weekend.

Ngwevu produced one of the finest performances of her Test career, carrying for more than 100 metres with her trademark direct running while producing another industrious defensive display.

“Our game plan suited me so well; I almost felt it revolved around me,” she said.

“I love taking the ball up, hitting rucks and tackling opposing players, and the way we played meant I could do all of that. It was the best Test match I have been involved in since I joined the team. In fact, this is the best team I have played with in all of my Test matches.”

There is another reason why Ngwevu seems unstoppable on the short ball coming in from an angle – her son, Luphiwe.

“I play for him and, when I start my runs to take the ball up, I think of him first. I want to make him proud.”

What is also extremely pleasing for Ngwevu is that, for the first time since she joined the squad, there are four mothers in the team.

“That is wonderful,” she said.

“We all play for the same reason – to provide for our children, to make them proud and to show that we can be mothers and rugby players at the same time.”

Come this weekend’s second Test against the USA Eagles, the Ngqamakwe-born hybrid player has no intention of slowing down.

“We showed what we can do at Ellis Park, especially in that first half, but we all know we can do better.

“We respect the USA. They are ranked above us in the world rankings, after all. But we know we can get even better than we were last weekend, when we recorded our biggest win over them. The belief in the team is real; we can really take the Springbok Women to places they have never been.”

*Also read: How Bok Women could tap into rugby’s growing trend