Nolusindiso Booi, the most-capped Springbok Women’s player, will lead a strong South African squad with 19 out of the 32 selected players adding previous Women’s Rugby World Cup experience to the 2025 global showpiece, which kicks off in England in a few weeks’ time.
Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin’s squad was named at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday for the four-yearly tournament, where South Africa will face Brazil, Italy and France in Pool D.
The squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 12 August, and depart for England on Thursday, 14 August, ahead of their first match against Brazil, ten days later.
Booi, who captained the squad at the previous tournament in New Zealand in 2022, is also South Africa’s most experienced Test captain, having led the side in 23 Tests.
Babalwa Latsha, who captained the Bok Women in 14 Test matches as well as in the recent Black Ferns XV series, was named as vice-captain.
Booi (2010, 2014, 2022) and Tayla Kinsey (2014, 2022) are the most experienced players in the squad, which boast a combined total of 689 Test caps.
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Amongst the 19 forwards, eight will be experiencing a Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time. Anathi Qolo (lock) captained the side at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar in June, and Luchell Hanekom (hooker), Xoliswa Khuzwayo (prop), Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop), Danelle Lochner (lock) and Vainah Ubisi (lock) all played for South Africa last year, while Faith Tshauke (flanker) made her Test debut in Madagascar a few months ago.
Four of the 13 backs will represent South Africa on this level for the first time: Wings Maceala Samboya and Ayanda Malinga, flyhalf Mary Zulu and utility back Byrhandré Dolf are the newcomers in a backline stacked with players who have encountered the pressures of the Rugby World Cup before.
All 32 players selected for the Women’s Rugby World Cup featured either against Spain in April, the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, the two Tests against Canada in July, or the two recent internationals against the Black Ferns XV, which was a telling factor in their final selection, according to De Bruin.
“We used 49 players during the season where we played six Test matches and four international friendlies, and I know we got the balance right.”
Springbok Women Head Coach, Swys de Bruin
“There will always be unfortunate players not selected,” said De Bruin, “But as a coaching staff, we are happy that we got the group we wanted.”
De Bruin said what excites him most are the combinations they will work with: “I believe that will push us towards the play-offs as we have so many options for each opponent, and that will boost our abilities. This selection is a culmination of hard work and sacrifice for the players, and I want to congratulate them. We all know the journeys each one travelled and for most, it was not easy.”
Springbok Women 2025 Rugby World Cup Squad
Props
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 10 points (2 tries) *
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 8 caps, 0 points)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *
Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain, unattached) – 36 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 5 caps, 0 points
Hookers
Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers Women, England) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Lindelwa Gwala (unattached) – 35 caps, 75 points (15 tries) *
Luchell Hanekom (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 0 points)
Locks
Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 52 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) –13 caps, 0 points
Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) – 9 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Utility and Loose Forwards
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 28 caps, 65 points (13 tries) *
Catha Jacobs (unattached) – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try) *
Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (unattached) – 38 caps, 55 points (11 tries) *
Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 28 caps, 45 points (9 tries) *
Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Scrumhalves
Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion) *
Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 40 caps, 53 points (3 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals) *
Flyhalves
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 209 points (12 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalties, 1 drop goal) *
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Centres
Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions) *
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 27 caps, 60 points (12 tries) *
Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries) *
Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 17 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *
Outside Backs
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 106 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 5 penalty goals) *
Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 13 caps, 65 points (13 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Utility Backs
Byrhandré Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 37 points (7 tries, 1 conversion)
Nadine Roos (unattached) – 18 caps, 35 points (5 tries, 5 conversions) *
* Denotes previous RWC experience.
Pool D Schedule (SA times)
Sunday 24 August
15h45: SA v Brazil (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton)
Sunday 31 August
16h30: SA v Italy (York Community Stadium, York)
Sunday 7 September
17h45: SA v France (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton)
The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 13 and 14 September, with the semi-finals on 19 and 20 September, and the final on Saturday, 27 September, 2025.
Team Management
Swys de Bruin (Head Coach)
Laurian Johannes-Haupt (Assistant Coach)
Bafana Nhleko (Assistant Coach)
Franzel September (Assistant Coach)
Naasier Parker (Strength and Conditioning Coach)
Zenay Jordaan (World Rugby Gallagher High Performance Academy Coach)
Moshe Magethi (Team Doctor)
Neda Isaacs (Physiotherapist)
Lezane Ward (Physiotherapist)
Thandiswa Nxomani (Team Manager)
JJ Harmse (Media Manager)
Zwonaka Mbedzi (Analyst)
Thembisa Nxopo (Operations)
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Captain Nolusindiso Booi (with World Cup experience in 2010, 2014, 2022) and Tayla Kinsey (2014, 2022) are the most experienced players in 32-strong Springbok Women squad announced for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup global showpiece in England, which the Boks kick off in Pool D against Brazil, Italy and France in a few weeks’ time. Photo: SA Rugby / Gallo Images
