Swys implements two-squad method for tough 2026 season

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has opted for the “two-squad” system to combat his team’s challenging 2026 Test season, which includes a series against the Black Ferns.

De Bruin will not travel to Kenya but will remain in Stellenbosch to work with the conditioning group, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September taking charge of the touring squad.

“We are repeating the exercise that worked well for us last season,” De Bruin explained.

“We see this tournament as a perfect opportunity to blood new players and give some capped players proper game time, while for Laurian and Franzel, these three Test matches are ideal to gain experience.

“We are playing the USA in two Tests in early July, so I want to tick all boxes as we lead into a busy 2026 season.

“The Africa Cup squad will broaden our base, some players will get more Test experience, while at the same time, I can work with a core of senior players at home to get some match detail for the USA and the Black Ferns done.”

Anathi Qolo will lead the Springbok Women’s squad of 28 players to the 2026 edition of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, with nine uncapped players included in the touring group who will look to defend the title South Africa won in Madagascar last year.

The tournament will take place from May 23 -31, and the Bok Women will be in action against Uganda, Madagascar and Kenya at the RFUEA Sports Grounds.

Qolo, who captained the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to a fourth consecutive Pick n Pay Women’s Super League title in April, is one of nine players who represented South Africa at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, while nine others are set to make their debuts for the Springbok Women.

There is also a return to international action for eight capped players who were not in the RWC squad last year. In total, 14 players from 2025 will make this trip to the continental showpiece of women’s rugby.

Qolo captained the Bok Women to this tournament last year as well, and as was the case during 2025, many senior players will remain in Stellenbosch for strength and conditioning work, while seven other RWC participants are currently with the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad, and two more are plying their trade in England.

De Bruin has also rewarded players who excelled during the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League, including a couple of players who earn a recall to the national side. Amongst them are the EP Queens scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar, who played her only two Tests against Scotland in 2019, and Alichia Arries, who was capped twice in 2021.

Four of the uncapped players, Thandile Mazwi, Abigail Smit, Logan Welman and Zethu Gcaza, are recent graduates from the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week, highlighting that pathway to the national set-up for the younger generation of players.

Springbok Women fixtures (SA times):

Saturday,  May 23:

13.00: SA v Madagascar

Wednesday, May 27:

13.00: SA v Uganda

Sunday, May 31:

15.00: SA v Kenya

Springbok Women squad:

Props:
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 39 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 9 caps, 0 points
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 9 caps, 0 points
Thandile Mazwi (Western Province) – uncapped
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Anuschka Ekron (Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points
Hookers:
Roseline Botes (Western Province) – 24 caps, 8 tries (40 points)
Anushka Groenewald (Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points
Locks:
Abigail Smit (Western Province) – uncapped
Nomsa Mokwai (Western Province) – 13 caps, 0 points
Anathi Qolo (captain, Bulls Daisies) – 11 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Zethu Gcaza (Border Ladies) – uncapped
Loose forwards:
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 points
Ntsako Mbombi (Golden Lions Women) – uncapped
Logan Welman (Western Province) – uncapped
Scrumhalves:
Insaaf Levy (Western Province) – uncapped
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 3 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Flyhalves:
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Thami Yeko (EP Queens) – uncapped
Inside backs:
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 30 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 103 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 4 penalty goals)
Naima Hlatshwayo (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Outside backs:
Nomawethu Mabenge (Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
Alichia Arries (Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points
Shaunique Alexander (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Chuma Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 2 points (1 conversion)