Minnaar and Levy to join Springbok Women for Irish Tests

Anacadia Minnaar and Insaaf Levy will join a settled Springbok Women squad in Stellenbosch on Wednesday when they assemble for their final two Tests of the year, against Ireland in Cape Town on Saturday 24 and 31 October.

The two Tests at Athlone Stadium will conclude the 2026 WXV Global Series for the hosts, who just returned from Europe where they played Wales, Italy and Spain on consecutive weekends.

Minnaar was a late withdrawal from the trip north, but she returns to the squad in place of Felicia Jacobs, while Levy has been added in place of the injured Ayanda Malinga as co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September stuck to the same group of players that finished the European tour with victories over Italy and Spain.

“We opted for continuity as we have good momentum from the last couple of matches on tour, hence the call to stay with the same group of players,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“Anacadia could unfortunately not travel to Europe but we are happy to have her back, while we also want to bring Insaaf closer to the action and tap into her skill set. Ireland are not the fifth-ranked team in the world for nothing – they will really test us.”

Minnaar was part of the squad all year and last played against the Black Ferns just over a month ago, while Levy played in two of the three Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Tests in Kenya in May before touring Brazil with the SA Women ‘A’-side in August.

The team will start their preparations on Thursday and will move to Cape Town on Sunday, where they will be based for the series.

“We are pleased on how the season progressed and want to finish it strong at home,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“Athlone Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years and it is a perfect setting for us to close out the season.”

Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 3pm.Tickets are sold per match and are only available from Ticketmaster.

Two players, Free State Women centre Aisha Camara and DHL Western Province prop Anothando Katshwa, have been invited to train with the squad for the duration of the camp.

Springbok Women squad for Ireland Tests

Forwards (18): Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 38 caps, 90 points (18 tries), Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 30 points (6 tries), Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries), Sizophila Solontsi (SA Rugby contracted) – 39 caps, 50 points (10 tries), Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 34 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 39 caps, 85 points (17 tries), Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 5 points (1 try), Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 22 caps, 0 points, Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 27 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 45 points (9 tries), Babalwa Latsha (captain; DHL Western Province) – 47 caps, 40 points (8 tries), Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 16 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 49 caps, 20 points (4 tries), Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) - 43 caps, 90 points (18 tries), Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 20 caps, 15 points (3 tries).

Backs (12): Jakkie Cilliers (RC Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 29 caps, 168 points (12 tries, 48 conversions, 8 penalties), Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 12 caps, 25 points (5 tries), Patience Mokone (SA Rugby contracted) – 7 caps, 20 points (4 tries), Maria Tshiremba (SA Rugby contracted) – 3 caps, 25 points (5 tries), Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 14 caps, 30 points (6 tries), Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 10 points (2 tries), Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 5 caps, 0 points, Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 33 caps, 90 points (9 tries, 21 conversions, 1 penalty), Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 19 caps, 45 points (1 try, 20 conversions), Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 34 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion), Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 9 caps, 3 points (1 penalty), Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points.