By
Springbok Women head coach Louis Koen praised the seven new additions as he unveiled a squad of 32 players for the upcoming three-week tour of the United Kingdom and Spain later this month.
Three of the uncapped players, props Xoliswa Khuzwayo and Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen, as well as lock Samantha Els - the daughter of golf star Ernie Els - played in the green and gold in last season's pre-WXV 2 warm-up match against the San Clemente Rhinos, but will now push for a first Test cap.
Scrumhalf Alicia Willemse and locks Olwethu Kasibe and Anathi Qolo will celebrate a first call up, while wing Sikholiwe Mdletshe was named in the Springbok Women's Sevens squad to play in the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens Cup last year, only to withdraw with a hamstring injury a week before departure.
Only 28 players will fly out to London on Thursday night though, as four regular starters in the Bok pack - Babalwa Latsha, Lindelwa Gwala, Danelle Lochner and Aseza Hele - will join their teammates in the UK, where they are plying their trade in the Premiership Women's Rugby competition.
Nolusindiso Booi will captain the side, with Latsha and Tayla Kinsey the vice-captains.
Koen congratulated the new players, saying that broaden their player base are an important aspect identified in last season's review.
"Xoliswa, Aliyah and Samantha have been part of our training squads last year and attended all the alignment camps since, so they have a good idea of what we want to achieve on this tour. Their hard work has also been rewarded," said Koen.
"Alica, Anathi and Olwethu impressed our coaching staff with their efforts during the alignment camps, while the unfortunate injury Sne (Mdletshe) suffered while training with our sevens squad, opened up the opportunity for us to select her for this tour.
"We could not include some injured players like Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Chumisa Qawe, Catha Jacobs, Nomawethu Mabenge and Sizophila Solontsi, but they are still part of our plans for the year ahead."
The team will have training sessions against Scotland (Edinburgh, 11 March) and Wales (Swansea, 16 March) before Test matches against Spain (Valladolid, 23 March) and the USA (London, 30 March).
Koen said the tour provides invaluable preparation against high quality opposition as the Springbok Women gear up for the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar in May, their pathway to the Rugby World Cup in England in 2025 and the recently-announced WXV 2, which will again be hosted in South Africa.
"We are so thankful for this opportunity provided to us by SA Rugby and World Rugby," said Koen.
"Scotland and Wales are gearing up to play in the Guinness Six Nations and the USA will play in the Pacific Four tournament, while Spain will host us for a second year for a test match.
"All these teams are ranked above us, so it is fantastic to get the opportunity to play against them. We have our own ambitions going forward and these training sessions and Tests will help us get there."
The Springbok Women tour squad
Sanelisiwe Charlie, Xoliswa Khuzwayo (uncapped), Babalwa Latsha, Asiza Mkiva, Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen (uncapped), Lindelwa Gwala, Roseline Botes, Micke Gunter, Nolusindiso Booi (captain), Vainah Ubisi, Samantha Els (uncapped), Danelle Lochner, Nomsa Mokwai, Olwethu Kasibe (uncapped), Sinelitha Noxeke, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Anathi Qolo (uncapped), Aseza Hele, Nompumelelo Mathe, Rumandi Potgieter, Tayla Kinsey, Alicia Willemse (uncapped), Mary Zulu, Byrhandre Dolf, Piwokuhle Nyanda, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Veroeskha Grain, Jakkie Cilliers, Asiphe Mayaba, Sikholiwe Mdletshe (uncapped), Macaela Samboya, Chuma Qawe.
