Qolo named Springbok Women captain as assistant coaches take charge at Rugby Africa Women's Cup

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin will not travel with his team for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup later this month.

Upon announcing his squad for the tournament, which takes place in Kenya, the 66-year-old head coach confirmed that he will stay in Stellenbosch to work with a ‘conditioning group’. Assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September will lead the team in Nairobi.

This is a repeat of what the team did in 2025 ahead of their quarter-final finish at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. With July fixtures against the USA Women’s Eagles around the corner, it is a chance for De Bruin to work closely with the senior internationals that do not play in England.

For this tournament, 11-cap Bulls Daisies lock forward Anathi Qolo will captain the team. Last year Qolo captained the team to their fourth Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title in a row.

In total nine of the players selected at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup played at last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup. Another nine players could make their debuts after impressing in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 and at the SA U20 Women’s Week.

Swys de Bruin, Springbok Women head coach, said: “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.

“We are playing the USA in two Tests in early July, so I want to tick all boxes as we lead into a busy 2026 season.

“The Africa Cup squad will broaden our base, some players will get more Test experience, while at the same time, I can work with a core of senior players at home to get some match detail for USA and the Black Ferns done.”

Springbok Women Rugby Africa Women’s Cup squad

Props
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 39 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 9 caps, 0 points
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 9 caps, 0 points
Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Anuschka Ekron (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points

Hookers
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 24 caps, 8 tries (40 points)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 points

Locks
Abigail Smit (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 0 points
Anathi Qolo (captain, Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 11 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Zethu Gcaza (Border Ladies) – uncapped

Loose forwards
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – 3 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Faith Tshauke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 points
Ntsako Mbombi (Golden Lions Women) – uncapped
Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – uncapped

Scrum-halves
Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 3 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)

Fly-halves
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Thami Yeko (EP Queens) – uncapped

Centres
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 30 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Jakkie Cilliers (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 103 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 4 penalty goals)
Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped

Outside backs
Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points
Shaunique Alexander (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Chuma Qawe (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 2 points (1 conversion)