First Bok Women camp for 2026 points to the future

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has invited 10 uncapped players to the team’s first alignment camp of 2026, with 34 players set to congregate in Stellenbosch from 12-24 April.

The Springbok Women will play in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup at the end of May before hosting the USA in two Tests in July and New Zealand’s Black Ferns in September. Fourteen Tests are planned for the year but for De Bruin, the focus is to get the new players aligned with the established ones.

Several players involved in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England last year will be in Stellenbosch but Danelle Lochner and Micke Gunter still have club commitments in England.

Others who will not join their Women’s RWC teammates are either involved with the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad who plays in the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Hong Kong next weekend or are not available due to injury.

Those include Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha, Lerato Makua, Catha Jacobs, Maceala Samboya, Nadine Roos, Sizophila Solontsi, Aseza Hele and Libbie Janse van Rensburg.

The Isuzu Bulls Daisies dominate the group but De Bruin also invited players from six other provinces, with performances in the recently completed Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 rewarded by the national coaches.

“We have some injuries amongst our senior players and others are away on sevens duty, so we needed to plan around that,” said De Bruin.

“There were a couple of younger players in the tournament that showed promise and we invited them to have a closer look at their abilities too. It is an exciting time for all of us as we take our first steps towards a bumper season.”

Springbok Women alignment camp squad

Luchell Hanekom, Roseline Botes, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Logan Welman*, Abigail Smit*, Thandile Mazwi*, Anothando Khatshwa*, Babalwa Latsha, Anushka Groenewald, Insaaf Levy*, Alichia Arries (all DHL Western Province), Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Ntsako Mbombi* (both Golden Lions Women), Mary Zulu, Nobuhle Mjwara, Lindelwa Gwala (all Sharks Women), Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Zethu Gcaza* (all Border Ladies), Siphenathi Yeko*, Anacadia Minnaar (both EP Queens), Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames), Sanelisiwe Charlie, Yonela Ngxingolo, Vainah Ubisi, Dineo Ndhlovu, Anathi Qolo, Faith Tshauke, Sinelitha Noxeke, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, Naima Hlatshwayo*, Chuma Qawe, Shaunique Alexander* (all Isuzu Bulls Daisies).

* uncapped