Springbok Women lock Anathi Qolo will captain the South African touring squad that includes nine uncapped players to the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, opening their continental title defence against Madagascar at the RFUEA Sports Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
The tournament will take place from 23 to 31 May 2026, with the Bok Women in action against Madagascar, Uganda and Kenya at the RFUEA Sports Grounds, defending the title South Africa won in Madagascar last year.
Qolo, who captained the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to a fourth consecutive Pick n Pay Women’s Super League title in April, is one of nine players who represented South Africa at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, while nine others are set to make their debuts for the Springbok Women.
There is also a return to international action for eight capped players who were not in the RWC squad last year. In total, 14 players from 2025 will make this trip to the continental showpiece of women’s rugby.
Qolo captained the Bok Women to this tournament last year as well, and as was the case during 2025, a number of senior players will remain in Stellenbosch for strength and conditioning work, while seven other RWC participants are currently with the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad, and two more are plying their trade in England.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin will not travel to Kenya but will remain in Stellenbosch to work with the conditioning group, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September taking charge of the touring squad.
“We are repeating the exercise that worked well for us last season,” De Bruin explained.
“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.”
Springbok Women Head Coach, Swys de Bruin
“The Africa Cup squad will broaden our base, some players will get more Test experience, while at the same time,” said De Bruin, “I can work with a core of senior players at home to get some match detail for USA and the Black Ferns done.”
De Bruin has also rewarded players who excelled during the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League, including a couple of players who earn a recall to the national side. Amongst them are EP Queens scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar, who played her only two Tests against Scotland in 2019, and Alichia Arries, who was capped twice in 2021.
Four of the uncapped players, Thandile Mazwi, Abigail Smit, Logan Welman and Zethu Gcaza, are recent graduates from the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week, highlighting the pathway to the national set-up for the younger generation of players.
Springbok Women Squad for the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup
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
Scrumhalves
Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 3 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Flyhalves
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Thami Yeko (EP Queens) – uncapped
Inside Backs
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)
Travelling Management
Laurian Johannes-Haupt (Assistant Coach)
Franzel September (Assistant Coach)
Robyn Bam (Analyst)
Dhavina Naidoo-Jewkes (Team Doctor)
Neda Isaacs (Physiotherapist)
Naasier Parker (Strength and Conditioning)
Thandiswa Nxomani (Team Manager)
The Springbok Women Fixtures at the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup at the RFUEA Sports Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya
Sat 23 May, 13h00: Springbok Women v Madagascar
Wed 27 May, 13h00: Springbok Women v Uganda
Sun 31 May, 15h00: Springbok Women v Kenya
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Springbok Women captain Anathi Qolo will lead a 28-player touring squad to the 2026 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, defending the continental title at the RFUEA Sports Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, from Saturday, 23 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026. Photo: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
