Springbok Women enter phase two

With many of the current national squad still involved in next weekend’s Women’s Premier Division final, interim Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen has invited 16 players to his second WXV alignment camp of the season, which will start at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on Monday.

Koen invited incumbents from the Mastercard Golden Lions Women, Hollywoodbets Sharks Women and EP Queens, none of which progressed to the semi-finals of the competition. He also brought in some players who are busy with injury rehabilitation, including regular captain Nolusindiso Booi and her lock partner Danelle Lochner.

Booi last played against Spain in April and Lochner in the final match of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in June.

The duo will be attending the camp, but fellow Africa Cup winners Nomawethu Mabenge (knee), Sizophila Solontsi (ankle), Azisa Mkiva and Asiphe Mayaba (ankle injuries) have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, including the forthcoming WXV. Aphiwe Ngwevu (shoulder) will also miss the WXV but will attend camp for rehabilitation.

Koen called up three players based in England, in Catha Jacobs (Leicester Women), Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) and Amber Schonert (Sale Sharks Women) to rejoin the national squad, while welcoming USA-based lock, Sam Els, to her first camp.

Els, who calls Herold’s Bay in the Southern Cape home, completed her studies at and played for Stanford University, before joining New York Rugby club after graduating.

Koen also invited two Springbok Women’s players who have not featured at international level since 2019 in Annique Geswind (hooker) and Piwokuhle Nyanda (centre).

Two of Nyanda’s Lions teammates, prop Xoliswa Khuzwayo and No 8 Aliyah Tchogna Njamen, will also attend camp, as will EP Queens loose forward Yolanda Ntibane.

Koen said the camp will serve several purposes.

“We have a big group of forwards attending, so the forward coaches, Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt, can get valuable time on the training field with them,” said Koen.

“There are a couple of new players as well, so we will try and integrate them as smoothly as possible, while the medical staff will also have a number of players busy with rehabilitation to look after.”

The camp will conclude on 26 August before Koen will name a squad of 35, including players involved in the Premier Division final, to assemble in Potchefstroom on 4 September.

Springbok Women’s training group: Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Aliyah Tchogna Njamen, Piwokuhle Nyanda (Mastercard Golden Lions Women), Roseline Botes, Annique Geswind, Nolusindiso Booi, Danelle Lochner (DHL Western Province), Nompumelelo Mathe, Tayla Kinsey, Mary Zulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks Women), Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women), Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women), Amber Schonert (Sale Sharks Women), Samantha Els (New York Rugby Club), Yolanda Ntibane (EP Queens), Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies).