Springbok Women name squad for 2025 World Cup, featuring 19 World Cup veterans

Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin's squad was named at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday, coinciding with Women's Day celebrations. Booi, who is also South Africa's most experienced Test captain, will lead a squad featuring 19 players with prior Rugby World Cup experience. 

The Bok Women will face Brazil, Italy, and France in Pool D, with the top two teams in the pool advancing to the knockout stages.

Booi (2010, 2014, 2022) and Tayla Kinsey (2014, 2022) are the most experienced players in the squad, which boasts a combined total of 689 Test caps.

Amongst the 19 forwards, eight will be experiencing a Women's Rugby World Cup for the first time. They are lock Anathi Qolo, who captained the side at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar in June, as well as hooker Luchell Hanekom, props Xoliswa Khuzwayo and Nombuyekezo Mdliki, and lock duo Danelle Lochner and Vainah Ubisi, all of whom played for South Africa last year, and flanker Faith Tshauke, who 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 Byrhandre 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," said De Bruin.

"There will always be unfortunate players not selected, 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."

The squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 12 August and depart for England on Thursday, 14 August. Their first match is against Brazil 10 days later.

Springbok Women 2025 Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards: Sanelisiwe Charlie, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Yonela Ngxingolo, Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain), Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Micke Gunter, Lindelwa Gwala, Luchell Hanekom, Nolusindiso Booi (captain), Danelle Lochner, Nomsa Mokwai, Anathi Qolo, Vainah Ubisi, Aseza Hele, Catha Jacobs, Lerato Makua, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Sizophila Solontsi, Faith Tshauke.

Backs: Unam Tose, Tayla Kinsey, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Mary Zulu, Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Chumisa Qawe, Eloise Webb, Jakkie Cilliers, Ayanda Malinga, Maceala Samboya, Byrhandre Dolf, Nadine Roos.

Bok Women 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 13/14 September, with the semi-finals on 19/20 September and the final on Saturday, 27 September.

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