Snyman ready to grasp Springbok challenge after 'hard decision'

Andre Snyman revealed he had “no expectation” that his daughter, Keira, would ever wear a Springboks jersey.

In July the 38-cap, 10 try former South Africa back watched his 18-year-old daughter represent the Junior Springbok Women for the first time.

By full-time Snyman and her newest teammates had lost 60-17 against a free-flowing USA U20 side, but has taken the first steps to representing the senior Springbok Women.

Already her performance has landed her in Cecil Afrika’s Springbok Women’s Sevens training squad. It is not a bad return for a player whose talents were curated at the foot of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, with her father as coach.

“There was never an expectation that she should come back to South Africa to wear the green and gold,” he said.

“I always told her that rugby should be fun too. The fact that she could get here and had fun on the way is great. But this was something she chased, and I am happy to be here in support.”

Snyman herself was unsure whether a South Africa jersey was in her future. The teenager spent time in the age grade setups of the USA and England before the South Africa Rugby Union [SARU] got in contact.

Across the past 12 months, Snyman has taken part in USA Women’s U18s squads and spent time in England in the U18s setup, as well as Saracens feeder club Old Albanian.

“It was a hard decision; I am not going to lie,” she said. “I grew up in America, and I have a life there, but with following your dreams, there will be sacrifices, so that made it easier.

“I have to compliment my team mates as well, being here and adapting was made so much easier by them, they welcomed me and that helped a lot.”

Snyman’s arrival in South Africa came after SARU upped efforts to capture South Africa qualified players located overseas and contribute to the union’s developing women’s rugby programme.

David Wessels, SA Rugby’s GM of High Performance Rugby, said: “Our goal is to attract all the best South African sportswomen to rugby – that includes female athletes currently playing other sports, and those living overseas.

“There are a lot of talented athletes whose parents emigrated. We want to give them the opportunity to come home and represent South Africa.”