WATCH: 'Playing in England is very different from playing in South Africa'

Tall, tough, physical, confrontational, and powerful.

Danelle Lochner is the archetypal lock, and after playing rugby for just over three years, she has already pushed herself to become a prominent figure in the women’s game.

And she does it all with poise and grace.

The 27-year-old Springbok Women second-row started her journey at the Brackenfell Rugby Club in Cape Town in 2022.

Lochner also represented South Africa in netball, making her one of the few athletes who have national honours in two different sports codes.

Being a former Protea netball star, the physicality of rugby made her fall in love with the oval ball, while her impressive athleticism helped her excel quickly.

In less than a year of picking up a rugby ball, she made her Springbok debut in Madrid against Canada on March 25, 2023.

In the same year, she was selected for the WXV 2 tournament, and after her impressive performance, she headed to England to join the Harlequins Women.

The POWER from Danelle Lochner 💥#COYQ #HARvLEI pic.twitter.com/eG2aL3LADn

— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) May 14, 2024

The lock has been a vital figure for the English giants. Her contribution goes beyond the set-piece, as her slick handling and strong defense made sure she was in the starting XV during their Premiership Women’s Rugby semifinal against Saracens.

Although a defeat was not the ideal part of the season, Lochner’s Harlequins – who feature Springbok prop Babalwa Latsha and England back Ellie Kildunne – have made massive strides in aiding the growth of the game, setting a world record for crowd attendance at a women’s club rugby match.

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“Playing in England is very different from playing in South Africa,” the Springbok lock Danelle Lochner told rugby365 ahead of the team’s tour to Europe at The Cullinan Hotel in Cape Town.

“Obviously, you are in a professional setup day in and day out, which a lot of clubs in South Africa do not have at the moment.

“You are playing with or against the best players from all around the world, and it really makes you step up a little bit more. It gives you confidence, and you can actually measure up and see what the standards are.

“It is really good; the experience is amazing. Every week, you get to push yourself just a little more.”

The lock stated that the women’s game in England is approached very differently compared to other countries.

“Women’s rugby is acknowledged there more than any other in the world.

“I think other countries can adopt the [notion], and hopefully, with the 2025 World Cup coming, people can see that women can play rugby.”

When asked about the reluctance in South Africa regarding the same acknowledgment for the women’s game, she said:

“With us being Springbok Women, people seem to think we need to own up to the Springboks name because the men are amazing. They have won back-to-back World Cups (2019 and 2023) and are the only men’s team with four trophies – it is a big thing to live up to at the end of the day.

“However, I also think that people need to realize and understand that we are only starting, and things are only becoming big and exciting for us now.

“Last year when we played the Barbarians before the Springboks v New Zealand, a lot of people didn’t know, and that also comes down to exposure, media, social media around that, and advertising, which is on the back foot when it comes to our game.

“So, I do feel if we increase those elements, we will have people watching and staying or arriving early for our games because the people that watch us always say that they didn’t realize we are that good.”

The Springbok Women are currently in Europe, where they are getting in some solid training sessions as they prepare for the 2025 World Cup.

The side will have two training sessions with their World Cup pool opposition France at the National Centre outside of Paris.

They will also play a match against an English team consisting of Under-20 and Under-23 players at the same venue on Saturday before departing to Alicante for a Test against Spain on April 19.

The Springbok Women go into that Test against Spain as slight favorites following their victory over the Spanish last year in Cape Town.

“I like to take it one day at a time. France first, see what we need to work on, and going into England Under-20, do the same thing.

“Train the things we have been doing in camp, and if anything needs to be fixed, we can do it before we meet Spain.

“I think Spain will be coming at us; they always put up a brave fight, and at the end of the day, it is who wants it the most and who is doing their job properly.”

Leaving a legacy

The lock is not one for the limelight; she has been doing incredible work, and her determination and drive inspire the next generation.

“I would not necessarily look at myself in that way, but obviously, you are a role model to the younger girls.

“Therefore, you have to set the standard. When you go on the field, you have to do your job because at the end of the day, you do have people looking at you, wanting to be in your position one day.

“We speak a lot about leaving your jersey in a better place, and that is the No.1 goal for us.

“When we leave, did we do our jersey number justice?”

The former Protea Netball star stated that her family has been her true north, showing constant love and support for her as she works hard toward representing the Springboks at the 2025 World Cup.