VIDEO: Next gen of the South Africa Women's Sevens squad
The South Africa Women’s Sevens A side will be sporting a couple of new faces when they take to the field this weekend in Dubai.
Seven players will travel with the international team for the first time.
One of the new players, Asiphe Mayaba, has Test experience and has scored five tries for the Springbok Women, while Kayla Swarts, younger sibling of South African track superstar Wayde van Niekerk, represented SA in field hockey at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Danaé van der Bergh is the daughter of former Springbok loose forward Elandré, who played one Test in the green and gold in 1994, while her Leopards teammate Vianca Boer excelled for the SA Students Sevens team this year.
Voice Ndou was the leading try scorer for Western Province in the 2024 Women’s Premier Division where she played alongside Anja le Roux and Donëy Filies, who represented the Junior Springbok Women earlier in the year as well.
Le Roux revealed that this weekend representing the international team will be one of her proudest moments.
“What excites me most about playing for the South Africa Women Sevens side is the culture and just the bond in the camp is incredible.”
The #BokWomen7s A team has been named to represent the squad in Dubai next weekend.
Anja le Roux is one of 7️⃣ new faces in the squad.#RiseUp#MakeItCount#dubai7s pic.twitter.com/Tu5Pihwg84— SA Women’s Rugby (@WomenBoks) November 23, 2024
For Swarts, taking the field with her role model Nadine Roos is a dream come true.
“I love the way Nadine Roos plays. She is a machine on the field. I look up to her and I love her worketching. I always learning from her in training.
“So getting to play alongside her will be a dream come true.”
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Van der Bergh said she is excited to follow in her dad’s footsteps, who also represented South Africa.
“My dad also wore this badge and it makes him proud.”
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The South Africa Women’s Sevens A team will face Georgia, France Militaire Rugby Sevens and Ireland Invitational in their pool.
South Africa Women’s Sevens ‘A’ squad: Kemisetso Baloyi (captain), Nompumelelo Mathe, Leigh Fortuin, Kayla Swarts, Voice Ndou, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Zandile Masuku, Vianca Boer, Anja le Roux, Danaé van der Bergh, Donëy Filies, Asiphe Mayaba
It started slowly, but it was not quite an afternoon of leisure in Dubai. #BokWomen7s A session as we prepare for @Dubai7s International Invitational… pic.twitter.com/7nwFaSDMoc
— SA Women’s Rugby (@WomenBoks) November 27, 2024
