Walker Babes win Betway Women’s Club Championship title

Walker Babes of Boland became the toast of South African women’s rugby on Friday when they edged reigning champions, KWARU from Eastern Province by 12-10 (half-time 10-7) in a pulsating Betway Women’s Club Championship Premier Division final at Alberton Rugby Club in Gauteng.

In what was a repeat of the inaugural 2025 final between the two sides, following two cliffhanger semi-finals on Wednesday that were separated by a combined one point, it was a case of sweet revenge for the Bolanders, who were on the wrong end of an equally nail-biting title-decider a year ago that finished 17-14 in favour of KWARU.

Thanks to sponsors Betway, Walker Babes walked away with R20 000 in prize-money for their Herculean efforts in front of an enthusiastic Ekurhuleni crowd.

Walker Babes, who had sneaked into the final on the back of a 21-20 victory over Pretoria’s Harlequins on Wednesday, scored the only points of a tense second half before being forced to defend for their lives in the closing stages.

However, they were ultimately led home thanks to a Player of the Match performance from scrumhalf Chloe Adams, whose memorable solo try just after the break ultimately separated the sides in what will go down as a superb advertisement for the women’s game and clear evidence of its rapid rise in popularity.

For outgoing champions KWARU, who held on for a dramatic 12-12 draw against Pirates from Johannesburg in Wednesday’s other semi-final, it was a case of missed opportunities – albeit in the face of an aggressive Babes defensive effort that never let up for the full 60 minutes.

KWARU opened the scoring after just five minutes, thanks to the first of two tries by lock Esethu Mbongisa. The champions-in-waiting, however, took the lead after 13 minutes when centre Nasiphi Tutuka dived over for Adams to slot what would turn out to be a crucial conversion in the context of the match.

Mbongisa’s second try after 24 minutes gave KWARU a slender 10-7 lead at the break but Walker Babes regained the lead six minutes into the second half when Adams darted through a gap in midfield from an attacking lineout and ran in unopposed from 40 metres.

That proved to be the decisive – and final – score of the match, bringing the curtain down on a tournament that has, in the short space of one year and two editions, captured the imagination of players and fans alike.

On the evidence of the 2026 edition, there has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of women’s club rugby compared with last year’s pioneering event, with the added competitiveness translating into many of the matches going down to the wire.

Increased physicality and structures – both in attack and on defence – were a hallmark of all three days’ play, which augurs well for the future of the women’s game at this level.

Sol Plaatje University (Griquas) won the First Division title with a hard-fought 17-10 victory over Nelspruit (Pumas) in the main curtain-raiser, with the women from Kimberley walking away with a R10 000 winners’ cheque courtesy of title sponsors, Betway.

The Betway Women’s Dream Team was also announced, in recognition of the many outstanding individual performances that were a hallmark of the week-long event.

In recognition of their sterling work in hitting deadlines and ensuring compliance, SA Rugby also decided to recognise the two team managers who set the highest standards during the event, namely Premier Division winner Nelly Crafford (Pretoria Harlequins, Blue Bulls) and First Division winner Louise Spies (Welkom, Griffons).

It was a case of double delight for the Crafford family, with Nelly’s daughter, Busisiwe, being named in the Betway Women’s Dream Team.

Betway Women’s Dream Team: 15 Amanda Klassen (Walker Babes), 14 Arthea King (Walker Babes), 13 Ywaydha de Vos (Middelburg Stormers), 12 Yamkela Funani (KWARU), 11 Maserati Bangaza (Sol Plaatje University); 10 Julene Haas (KWARU), 9 Chloe Adams (Walker Babes); 8 Portia Khumalo (Potch Dorp), 7 TJ Ngxowa (Collegians Valkyries), 6 Evelyn Maile (Sol Plaatje University); 5 Natasha Motlomelo (Collegians Valkyries), 4 Sinoyolo Best (DUT); 3 Loza Lonwabo (Harlequins), 2 Keishia Stuurman (Walker Babes), 1 Zena Swart (Walker Babes). Replacements: 16 Minge van Rensburg (Harlequins), 17 Hlomla Puzi (KWARU), 18 Anita Tom (Titans), 19 Busisiwe Crafford (Harlequins), 20 Sinalo Honono (Pirates), 21 Ayakha Soga (Walker Babes), 22 Juanine Jacobs (Sol Plaatje University), 23 Lukhanye Lolo (Middelburg Stormers).

Managers of the tournament

Premier Division: Nelly Crafford (Pretoria Harlequins, BBRU)

First Division: Louise Spies (Welkom, Griffons)

Scorers – First Division Day 3

University of Limpopo 26 (14), Vaal University of Technology 24 (10)

ULIM – Tries: Mapula Matsimela, Sibongokuhle Dlamini, Aluwani Makhado, Ndiyakholwa Kolisi. Conversions: Itumeleng Mkhari (3).

VUT – Tries: Nosipho Nkosi (3), Noluyanda Mtshweni, Londeka Ntanzi (2).

Player of the Match: Nosipho Nkosi (VUT)

Middelburg Stormers 46 (22), Titans 5 (5)

Stormers – Tries: Johnerecia Booysen, Micayle Hendricks (2), Rivonia Leslie, Lukhanye Lolo, Amber Olivier, Shanice Scholtz (2). Conversions: Hendricks (2), Scholtz.

Titans – Try: Anita Tom.

Player of the Match: Amber Olivier (Middelburg Stormers)

Welkom 24 (7), Potch Dorp 22 (17)

Welkom – Tries: Lemohang Maduna, Tshepiso Matelile, Thato Rantai, Karabo Senyane. Conversions: Matelile (2).

Potch Dorp – Tries: Kiara Sada (2), Portia Khumalo, Sihle Dladla. Conversion: Sada.

Player of the Match: Kiara Sada (Potch Dorp)

FINAL: Nelspruit 10 (0), Sol Plaatje University 17 (5)

Nelspruit – Tries: Skhulile Mabuza, Megan Guambe.

Sol Plaatje University – Tries: Rudeen Beukes, Maserati Bangaza, Jaen-Marie Owies. Conversion: Juanine Jacobs.

Player of the Match: Juanine Jacobs (Sol Plaatje University)

Scorers – Premier Division Day 3

Mqanduli Sharks 22 (19), Busy Bees 14 (14)

Sharks – Tries: Nasiphi Mbhangula, Oratile Moshome (2). Conversions: Zintle Holofela (2). Penalty: Holofela.

Bees – Tries: Anothando Khatshwa, Yonela Pokolo. Conversions: Sesethu Mtshazi (2).

Player of the Match: Anothando Khatshwa (Busy Bees)

DUT 17 (5), Collegians Valkyries 12 (12)

DUT – Tries: Kwanele Zungu (2), Milani Ngcwangu. Conversions: Zusakhe Mayapi.

Valkyries – Tries: Casey Moiketsi (2). Conversion: Bernice Strydom.

Player of the Match: Kwanele Zungu (DUT)

Pirates 17 (5), Pretoria Harlequins 22 (10)

Pirates – Tries: Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, Sharon Baloyi, Catherine Stacey. Conversion: Rumandi Potgieter.

Harlequins – Tries: Cupcake Madi, Klarissa van der Linden, Refilwe Gwenzi, Busisiwe Crafford. Conversion: Van der Linden.

Player of the Match: Refilwe Gwenzi (Harlequins)

FINAL: KWARU 10 (10), Walker Babes 12 (7)

KWARU – Tries: Esethu Mbongisa (2).

Walker Babes – Tries: Nasiphi Tutuka, Chloe Adams. Conversion: Adams.

Player of the Match: Chloe Adams (Walker Babes)