Daughter of ex-Springbok back included in Junior Springbok Women squad

The daughter of 38-cap Springbok Men international Andre Snyman has been included in a Junior Springbok Women squad ahead of a series against the USA Women U20.

Keira Snyman, 18, has been included as an additional player in the 30-player squad and can play on the wing or at centre. She has also spent time in England Rugby and USA Rugby age grade camps. The teenager was born in Durban but raised in the USA and England.

After a number of standout performances for invitational sevens teams last summer, Snyman caught the eye of England selectors. Already she had been named in USA U18 sevens camps but has spent the majority of this season in England.

She was named in a number of England U18 Women training camps and spent much of the season with Saracens feeder club Old Albanians, with whom she won the RFU National Cup and a Hertfordshire league title in their Junior Saints U18s side.

Snyman’s introduction to the Springbok setup has been described as part of “SA Rugby’s drive to identify and expose overseas-based players who are eligible to play for South Africa to the local women’s rugby structures”. In representing the Springboks, Snyman could emulate her father’s 38 caps and 10 Test tries.

Full Springbok Women internationals Abigail Smit and Zethu Gcaza have been named in the 30-player squad too. Both locks got their senior Test debuts at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya three months ago.

Hayden Groepes, Junior Springbok Women head coach, said: “Women’s rugby in South Africa is entering a very exciting phase. We are currently identifying, assessing, and preparing the next generation of players who we believe can contribute to the future success of the Springbok Women’s programme.

“For the first time since 2024, SA Rugby has done an outstanding job of bringing together a talented group of U20 athletes and providing them with a high-performance environment in preparation for international rugby.

“The focus has been on more than just selecting players – it has been about exposing them to elite standards, accelerating their development, and building a sustainable pathway into senior international rugby.”

South Africa will play the USA Women U20 twice in Stellenbosch. Katie Dowty will lead the USA squad as its head coach. Her squad includes Bella Vogel, who most recently played in the two-match Test series against the senior Springbok Women for the USA Women’s Eagles.

Junior Springbok Women squad

Forwards

Iviwe Jonas, Sesethu Dumke, Anothando Khatshwa, Alutha Ngcezula, Jada Davids, Chris Ross, Vanessa Gabadi, Nonkosi Ngema, Abigail Smit, Kaylee Daniels, Zethu Gcaza, Ntokozo Gumede, Buhle Mxoli, Chuma Isaac, Palesa Matee, Yaneliswa Plaatjie, Karabo Rabekane, Kaylin Heuvel.

Backs

Asanda Mnyandu, Danica Pypers, Anita Fazi, Erin Prins, Julene Haas, Hayley Hardneck, Yamkela Funani, Ronecia Gordon, Siphumelele Mdlalose, Owami Mohuli, Shanice Scholtz, Tereské Kabuika