Springbok Women unveil WXV squad as 'wider plan' revealed

Springbok Women co-coaches Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt have named the squad the European leg of their WXV Global Series campaign.

In the coming weeks, South Africa will play Tests against Wales, Italy and Spain, prior to return to Cape Town for back-to-back matches against Ireland.

Already in 2026 the team have retained their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title, played two-Test series against the USA Women’s Eagles and Fiji, and lost 52-20 to the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium. Out of the eight matches the team have played this calendar year, they have won six.

The team will be captained by Babalwa Latsha, but have lost Zintle Mpupha to an ankle injury sustained in Soweto last weekend. Junior Springbok Women 20-year-old centre Naima Hlatshwayo has replaced her Bulls Daisies teammate in the squad.

Franzel September said: “We have been building towards this tour for a while now, first with the introduction of new players at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, then the USA incoming Tests, the tour to Fiji, and last weekend’s match against the Black Ferns.

“It was a pity to lose Zintle, but at the same time, this creates a great opportunity for Naima, who was part of our squad in Kenya and was in the USA squad, but unfortunately injured at the time.

“The core of our squad has more than 20 caps, which reflects on our wider plan to build experience towards the next World Cup in 2029, while those with 10 caps or fewer point to our plans to bring in players that have been knocking on the door.”

Springbok Women WXV Global Series 2026 squad

Backs
Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 30 caps, 81 points (8 tries, 19 conversions, 1 penalty goal),
Jakkie Cilliers (Rugby Club Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 26 caps, 157 points (11 tries, 42 conversions, 6 penalty goals)
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 10 caps, 25 points (5 tries),
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 36 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 3 caps, 0 points
Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Patience Mokone (SA Rugby contracted) – 5 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (SA Rugby contracted) – 1 cap, 15 points (3 tries)
Ayanda Malinga (SA Rugby contracted) – 20 caps, 85 points (17 tries),
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (SA Rugby contracted) – 35 caps, 221 points (14 tries, 56 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion)
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 9 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)

Forwards
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 14 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 47 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 16 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Babalwa Latsha (captain, DHL Western Province) – 44 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 41 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 11 caps, 0 points
Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 18 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 25 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 20 caps, 0 points
Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 31 caps, 5 points (1 try);
Sizophila Solontsi (SA Rugby contracted) – 36 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 9 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 20 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 6 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 35 caps, 85 points (17 tries)