Bok Women bank on experience in naming squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup

Nolusindiso Booi, the most-capped Springbok Women’s player, will lead a strong, experienced South African squad boasting a combined 689 Test caps to the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in a few weeks’ time.

Bok Women’s head coach Swys de Bruin’s  squad for the World Cup – where South Africa will face Brazil, Italy and France in Pool D – was named at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

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. She said she was excited to have made the cut.

“We know the work needs to start again because we’ve been working so hard until now. We’ve been prepared enough and we did have a couple of games where we did have a crowd, because that is one of the things that are making people nervous when they reach that stage,” she said.

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  and Tayla Kinsey are the most experienced players in the squad, with 19 of the 32 players boasting previous World Cup experience.

Eight of the 19 forwards will be experiencing a Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time. Four of the 13 backs will represent South Africa on this level for the first time.

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, and depart for England on Thursday, August 14. Their first match is against Brazil 10 days later.

Springbok Women’s 2025 Rugby World Cup squad: 

Props: Sanelisiwe Charlie, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Yonela Ngxingolo, Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain), Nombuyekezo Mdliki

Hookers: Micke Gunter, Lindelwa Gwala, Luchell Hanekom

Locks: Nolusindiso Booi (captain), Danelle Lochner, Nomsa Mokwai, Anathi Qolo, Vainah Ubisi

Utility and loose forwards: Aseza Hele, Catha Jacobs, Lerato Makua, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Sizophila Solontsi, Faith Tshauke

Scrumhalves: Unam Tose, Tayla Kinsey

Flyhalves: Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Mary Zulu

Centres: Zintle Mpupha, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Chumisa Qawe, Eloise Webb

Outside backs: Jakkie Cilliers, Ayanda Malinga, Maceala Samboya

Utility backs: Byrhandré Dolf, Nadine Roos