RUGBY NEWS- Springboks Women captain Anathi Qolo will lead a 28-player squad to the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi, Kenya where South Africa will defend the title won in Madagascar last year.
The squad, announced by SA Rugby on Monday, includes nine uncapped players and will contest the tournament at the RFUEA Sports Grounds from 23 to 31 May.
The Bok Women face Uganda, Madagascar and Kenya during the continental championship.
Qolo, who also captained the side in 2025 and led the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to a fourth consecutive Pick n Pay Women’s Super League title in April is one of nine players from the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad included in the touring group.
Eight capped players who missed last year’s World Cup return to the setup, while seven World Cup squad members are currently with the Springbok Women’s Sevens team and two others are playing in England.
Head coach Swys de Bruin will remain in Stellenbosch to work with a conditioning group, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September taking charge in Kenya.
“We are repeating the exercise that worked well for us last season. We see this tournament as a perfect opportunity to blood new players and give some capped players proper game time, while for Laurian and Franzel, these three Test matches are ideal to gain experience,” De Bruin said.
De Bruin said the Africa Cup squad would broaden the player base ahead of two Tests against the USA in early July, while allowing him to work with senior players at home on match preparation for the USA and New Zealand’s Black Ferns.
The squad includes players rewarded for performances in the Women’s Super League, among them EP Queens scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar, who last played for South Africa in 2019 and Alichia Arries, capped twice in 2021.
Four uncapped players Thandile Mazwi, Abigail Smit, Logan Welman and Zethu Gcaza come in directly from the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week, marking the pathway for younger players into the national set-up.
South Africa open against Madagascar on 23 May, play Uganda on 27 May, and close against hosts Kenya on 31 May.
All matches are scheduled for 13h00, except the Kenya game at 15h00, South African time.
Springbok Women squad: Yonela Ngxingolo, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Thandile Mazwi, Sanelisiwe Charlie, Anuschka Ekron, Roseline Botes, Anushka Groenewald, Abigail Smit, Nomsa Mokwai, Anathi Qolo, Zethu Gcaza, Nobuhle Mjwara, Faith Tshauke, Sinelitha Noxeke, Ntsako Mbombi, Logan Welman, Insaaf Levy, Anacadia Minnaar, Mary Zulu, Thami Yeko, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Jakkie Cilliers, Naima Hlatshwayo, Nomawethu Mabenge, Alichia Arries, Shaunique Alexander, Chuma Qawe.
Photograph: SA Rugby
Leave a Reply