Dynamic Qolo leading the Isuzu Bulls Daisies into a new era

When Anathi Qolo leads the Isuzu Bulls Daisies onto the pitch this Saturday for the Pick ‘n Pay Women’s Super League final against the Sanlam Boland Dames (11am), she will be doing more than chasing a trophy; she’ll be carrying the torch for a revolution in South African women’s rugby.

With seven wins from seven matches and a points differential that looks more like a typographical error than a scoreboard (well over 400 points in their favour), the Bulls Daisies have become the gold standard of professionalism. But for Qolo, the journey from the netball courts of the Eastern Cape to the captaincy at Loftus Versfeld is a story of grit, heavy hearts, and an unshakeable belief that “it is possible”.

It is hard to imagine the formidable Springbok forward (and occasional captain) anywhere other than the heart of a scrum but Qolo admits her path was anything but linear.

“It was really tricky because I was a netball player,” Qolo laughs, reflecting on her early hurdles. “I’d never thought of playing rugby, first of all. And my physique too, whenever I tell people I’m a rugby player, they ask me again, ‘Are you sure?’ I have to tell them, ‘Please Google me, then you’ll find out!’.”

Growing up in the rugby-rich Eastern Cape, it took the guidance of legends like Mandisa Williams to convince her that a professional career wasn’t just a dream but a viable reality.

“She really convinced us that it’s really possible. I only truly started wanting to play for the Springboks when I got to the Isuzu Bulls Daisies, because the environment pushed me. It motivated me to believe in myself.”

Stepping into the captaincy this season wasn’t just a tactical promotion; it was a deeply emotional transition. Qolo took over the leadership reins following the tragic passing of the beloved Lusanda Dumke last year. For the squad, this final isn’t just about a fourth consecutive title, it’s a tribute.

“To be honest, it’s quite heavy,” Qolo admits with striking candour. “Lusanda was a brilliant player. We looked up to her, all of us. This weekend, we’re doing it for her, the whole season, basically. She loved the sport; she took us forward in everything she did and thought of us first. The pack has made it easier for me but you can’t take away what people like her have done for this team.”

While many of their opponents in the league are balancing full-time jobs with late-night training sessions, the Bulls Daisies operate in a high-performance bubble. It is a privilege Qolo does not take for granted.

“It’s really not nice working and then coming back to training,” she says, empathising with her rivals. “I can imagine the other teams . . . they have to wake up, go to work and then think about rugby. For us, the only thing we do is wake up and think rugby. We analyse the teams we play against. It has made us grow so much in our thinking.”

However, dominance brings its own set of psychological traps. When you are winning by 50 or 60 points a game, how do you keep the marching ants of complacency at bay? Qolo’s answer is simple: total intensity, every single minute.

“We always tell ourselves that every game, we have to play it as if we’re playing a final. Play as if you’re playing your last game. We stay on our toes because when you’re at the top, everyone just wants to be there and eat you up. That pressure is nice. It keeps us moving. If you’re not pressured, what are you doing?”

Looking ahead to the weekend’s blockbuster final, Qolo expects a tactical chess match. While the Bulls Daisies’ expansive play often grabs the headlines, the captain knows that trophies are won in the shadows.

“Defence and set-piece,” she says firmly when asked where the game will be decided. “That’s where it will be won.”

For the younger players in the squad, those feeling cup final fever for the first time, her message is one of empowerment: “Believe in yourself. Have confidence. I would tell my younger self: do not hold back. If you get into a setup like this, never, ever hold back. Because you can do it.”

Win or lose on Saturday, Qolo is playing for something much larger than a winner’s medal. She is an advocate for the total professionalisation of the women’s game across South Africa, hoping the Isuzu Bulls Daisies’ success acts as a catalyst for other franchises.

“Beyond the whistle, I want the legacy to be that it is possible,” Qolo says. “I pray that women’s rugby grows and other franchises can become professional too. If women can actually get paid to play this sport, anything is possible.”

There are no quirky superstitions for Qolo, no lucky socks or specific rituals. When she leads her side out this weekend, she’ll be doing it with the quiet, fierce confidence of a woman who knows exactly who she is and who she is playing for.

The Bulls Daisies are the hunted but in Qolo, they have a huntress of their own at the helm.