De Bruin announces 36-player Springbok Women training squad

Swys de Bruin has announced another South Africa training squad as preparations for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup this May continue.

The head coach has included Sizophila Solontsi and Nomawethu Mabenge in a 36-player squad that will gather in Stellenbosch for another training camp.

Solontsi missed the earlier April camp with a head injury sustained in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 final.

Mabenge has recently returned from a knee injury sustained while training with the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.

Lerato Makua, who is a national sevens player, has also been invited to train the squad.

South Africa, who reached the quarter-finals of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, start their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup campaign against Madagascar on Saturday 23 May, before taking on Uganda and Kenya.

A final squad will be confirmed before the squad’s departure to Kenya on Wednesday 20 May.

“I was very impressed with the new players that came into camp earlier this month and keen to continue the work we have done with them,” De Bruin said .

“The new players we’ve invited will add that extra layer of intensity that we will need in Kenya next month. I hope the invited players will make it very tough for me to select the final group to travel.”

Springbok Women training squad for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup

Luchell Hanekom, Roseline Botes, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Logan Welman*, Abigail Smit*, Thandile Mazwi*, Anothando Khatshwa*, Babalwa Latsha, Anushka Groenewald, Insaaf Levy*, Alichia Arries, Nomsa Mokwai (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), Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames), Sanelisiwe Charlie, Yonela Ngxingolo, Vainah Ubisi, Anathi Qolo, Faith Tshauke, Sinelitha Noxeke, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, Naima Hlatshwayo*, Chuma Qawe, Shaunique Alexander*, Sizophila Solontsi, Lerato Makua (all Isuzu Bulls Daisies)

*uncapped