Daisies welcome Border for crunch clash

The 2025 SA Rugby Women’s Premier Division competition returns after a week-long break. The defending champions, the Bulls Daisies, will welcome Border Ladies for round five at Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.

The visitors - who sit sixth on the log - and their hosts in first place will kick off at 12pm and tickets start from R 100 from Ticketpro. A ticket reserves a seat to the Daisies match and the North-South derby between the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers later in the afternoon.

On the field, Daisies mentor Hayden Groepes has made minor adjustments to his matchday 23, which sees a return to action for the Qawe sisters and Shaunique Alexander. There will be first runs in the current campaign for scrumhalf Mahlatse Nkumishe, seasoned campaigner Asithandile Ntoyanto and loose forward Lerato Makua, who returns to action after a lengthy time off.

Chumisa Qawe will start in her regular role at inside centre alongside Jakkie Cilliers, who will be on the outside. The centre pairing will be flanked by Alexander on the left wing and Patience Mokone on the right. Skipper, Libbie Janse van Rensburg slots in at fullback to complete the backline that is led by Unam Tose (scrumhalf) and Byrhandre Dolf (flyhalf) at halfback.

Up at the front, Yonela Ngxingolo shifts to the left of the front row whilst her fellow Springbok, Sanelisiwe Charlie moves to the right with Xolelwa Diliza slotting in between the two. Anathi Qolo moves back to her prominent lock role where she pairs up with Ziyanda Ngohlekana whilst the bulldozing Sizophila Solontsi and Faith Tshauke combine at loose forward and Sophy Mashapa completes the forwards pack at No 8.

Groepes has gone with a five-three split impact squad that sees Chumisa’s sister, Chuma Qawe, as well as the returning Makua, Ntoyanto and Mahlatse Nkumishe. The Daisies mentor will also have the likes of Micke Gunter, Doreen Mkhabele, Busisiwe Crafford and Zintle Nonkasana to call on should the match situation need.

Bulls Daisies starting XV: 15 Libbie Janse van Rensburg (capt), 14 Patience Mokone, 13 Jakkie Cilliers, 12 Chumisa Qawe, 11 Shaunique Alexander; 10 Byrhandre Dolf, 9 Unam Tose; 8 Sophy Mashapa, 7 Faith Tshauke, 6 Sizophila Solontsi; 5 Anathi Qolo, 4 Ziyanda Ngohlekana; 3 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 2 Xolelwa Diliza, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo. Replacements: 16 Micke Gunter, 17 Doreen Mkhabele, 18 Asithandile Ntoyanto, 19 Busisiwe Crafford, 20 Lerato Makua, 21 Mahlatse Nkumishe, 22 Zintle Nonkasana, 23 Chuma Qawe.