South Africa's Bulls Daisies: 'It wasn’t until that first payslip came through that it sank in.'
The drive from Pretoria in the north of South Africa to Gqeberha at the southern edge of the country takes about 12 hours by car. It’s longer still if you’re getting there on a bus large enough to carry a rugby team. Factor in some necessary stops along the way and this morphs into an arduous and uncomfortable journey.
The Bulls Daisies, as the Blue Bulls women’s outfit is called in a nod to the Barberton daisy that first adorned the union’s crest in 1938, made this trek last year. They left early on Friday morning. They then played the EP Queens at noon on Saturday, beating them 17-15. The players rested their weary bodies that evening before heading back where they came from the next day. After all, most had to be ready to report at their day job on Monday.
Two weeks ago they covered the same distance but went by very different means. This time they flew down in less than two hours. They were well rested and ready by the time the opening whistle sounded. They cruised to a 34-10 victory but were in no rush to race home. There was no other job that needed doing on Monday.
At the start of May, the Bulls Daisies made history by becoming the first fully professional women’s rugby team in South Africa. In a stroke, a hodgepodge collection of firefighters, teachers, physiotherapists, lawyers and students had nothing else to worry about other than the fate of an egg shaped ball.
“We still can’t really believe it,” says the 26-year-old scrumhalf, Rumandi Potgieter, one of 35 players now on a full-time contract. “Even after we’d signed, until we came to training on that first day we were still wondering, ‘Is this real?’.
“It wasn’t until that first payslip came through that it sank in. It’s an incredible feeling. I wake up with a smile on my face and I can’t wait to get into training. I know everyone else feels the same. There is an energy at the club now that I can’t put into words.”
Women’s rugby in South Africa was on its knees only five years ago. The national side didn’t play a competitive match between August 2014 and November 2018 and it looked as if the entire ecosystem would collapse.
The appointment of Lynne Cantwell – a veteran of two World Cups with Ireland – as high performance manager of women’s rugby in South Africa in January 2021, was soon followed by a revamped domestic competition. The Women’s Premier Division would provide a platform for prospective Springboks and bolster a pipeline that had been leaking for some time.
But there was only so much these players could do. A handful were contracted by SA Rugby but the rest toiled away as amateurs.
“Training was a place where you let off steam,” adds Potgieter, who was completing a law degree at the time. “You weren’t as focussed on developing skills and working on moves. You just wanted to forget about what happened in the week. But sometimes it was hard to concentrate if you had a deadline at the back of your mind.”
It was during this period that England and its top clubs in the Premier 15s set a benchmark. Though the Red Roses were felled in the World Cup final, their performances under Simon Middleton was a testament to what was possible when a group of elite athletes is supported by a stable base. Their set piece in particular caught the eye.
“We saw how they were doing things and we recognised that this was what was needed,” says Thando Manana, a former Springbok who now serves as the Bulls Daisies’ manager. “We recognised that these were the cornerstones of what made the Bulls and South African rugby so successful. Scrum, maul, line-out, aggression. We could do that. But we needed to learn and up our game.”
Manana went on a fact finding mission at the start of this year. He visited Saracens, Harlequins and Ealing Trailfinders to better understand how they ran their women’s programmes. He spoke to coaches and administrators. He asked a torrent of questions and returned to South Africa equipped with a workable blueprint.
“What I learned was that you couldn’t be half in and half out,” Manana explains. “I promised the players that they would get everything the men get. We can’t yet pay them the same. The reasons for that are known. But they would travel to games like the men do. They will have access to the same facilities, the same equipment, the same medical care, the same expertise, the same training methods, the same insurance. We will treat them the same.
“We had a proper pre-season. We work with them individually on nutrition and recovery. They are looked after and they give back in ways you can’t imagine. They want to be here. They want to make this work. We all do. There is still a lot of work that lies ahead. But I am excited.”
The team is unbeaten after three games this season. Besides their victory in Gqeberha, they’ve also won on the road in East London and Durban, putting a combined 65 points on Border Ladies and Sharks Women without conceding a point.
As expected, their success has been built from the ground up. Like the all-conquering Bulls’ men’s team that claimed three Super Rugby titles between 2007 and 2010, the Daisies have created an indomitable pack that Potgieter says, “is the toughest in the country by a mile”.
“The secret is time,” explains the Daisies’ head coach, Hayden Groepes who had previously worked as an assistant with the men’s senior team, as well as with the Under-19 side. “Time equals synergy. There are specific skills that are needed to form a formidable pack and again that comes with time together. The tight five has always been a massive part of the [men’s] Bulls game complimented by a dynamic loose trio. It’s the same with this team.
“We push them to be better and they take that on. We know that we have the opportunity to work on minor details. Line-out jumpers are off the ground much faster than before. The maul and scrum is much more compact. Mentally they’re more switched on. It’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
Success, however, can have some unintended consequences and the targets on the backs of every Daisies player will only grow larger.
“We embrace the pressure,” says a defiant Lusanda Dumke, the open-side flanker and co-captain of the squad. “I’m not triggered by pressure. We have to show that investing in women’s rugby makes a difference. We’re ready to lead.”
Dumke is one of the few players who already had a central contract with the national team and is now driving a standard at the club for others to follow. “I’ve been doing it anyway,” she says. “We want to make a mark. We want people to fear us. We want to be the team that everyone looks up to. We want them to know that we’re the best team in the country.”
Winning, though, is not enough. Manana understands that rugby is a business and the quality of entertainment is what sells the product. Though he is adamant that lifting trophies is imperative, he also wants his team to play a brand of rugby that can help recalibrate some antiquated views around the women’s game in South Africa.
His goal is to fill at least 50% of Loftus Versfeld, the spiritual home of rugby in Pretoria. Given its capacity is around 51,700, that seems a long way off. In March, a world record 15,420 people watched Harlequins and Bristol play at Twickenham in a game that served as a curtain raiser for a men’s Premiership clash later that day.
Still, the omens are positive. And if the Bulls can sweep aside the competition, they’ll lay down a marker for other provinces to follow.
“We can see the impact we’ve had already,” Potgieter says. “We talk to our friends at other teams and they’re now putting pressure on their CEOs to become professional. They don’t want to be left behind. We see what we’re doing as bigger than us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments