Springbok Ladies lock Anathi Qolo will captain the South African touring squad that features 9 uncapped gamers to the 2026 Rugby Africa Ladies’s Cup, opening their continental title defence towards Madagascar on the RFUEA Sports activities Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, 23 Might 2026.
The event will happen from 23 to 31 Might 2026, with the Bok Ladies in motion towards Madagascar, Uganda and Kenya on the RFUEA Sports activities Grounds, defending the title South Africa gained in Madagascar final yr.
Qolo, who captained the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to a fourth consecutive Decide n Pay Ladies’s Tremendous League title in April, is one among 9 gamers who represented South Africa on the 2025 Ladies’s Rugby World Cup in England, whereas 9 others are set to make their debuts for the Springbok Ladies.
There may be additionally a return to worldwide motion for eight capped gamers who weren’t within the RWC squad final yr. In whole, 14 gamers from 2025 will make this journey to the continental showpiece of girls’s rugby.
Qolo captained the Bok Ladies to this event final yr as effectively, and as was the case throughout 2025, various senior gamers will stay in Stellenbosch for energy and conditioning work, whereas seven different RWC individuals are at the moment with the Springbok Ladies’s Sevens squad, and two extra are plying their commerce in England.
Springbok Ladies head coach Swys de Bruin won’t journey to Kenya however will stay in Stellenbosch to work with the conditioning group, with assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September taking cost of the touring squad.
“We’re repeating the train that labored effectively for us final season,” De Bruin defined.
“We see this event as an ideal alternative to blood new gamers and provides some capped gamers correct sport time, whereas for Laurian and Franzel, these three Take a look at matches are perfect to realize expertise.”
“We’re taking part in the USA in two Assessments in early July, so I wish to tick all packing containers as we lead right into a busy 2026 season.”
Springbok Ladies Head Coach, Swys de Bruin
“The Africa Cup squad will broaden our base, some gamers will get extra Take a look at expertise, whereas on the identical time,” mentioned De Bruin, “I can work with a core of senior gamers at dwelling to get some match element for USA and the Black Ferns completed.”
De Bruin has additionally rewarded gamers who excelled throughout the Decide n Pay Ladies’s Tremendous League, together with a few gamers who earn a recall to the nationwide aspect. Amongst them are EP Queens scrumhalf Anacadia Minnaar, who performed her solely two Assessments towards Scotland in 2019, and Alichia Arries, who was capped twice in 2021.
4 of the uncapped gamers, Thandile Mazwi, Abigail Smit, Logan Welman and Zethu Gcaza, are latest graduates from the SA Rugby U20 Ladies’s Week, highlighting the pathway to the nationwide set-up for the youthful era of gamers.
Springbok Ladies Squad for the 2026 Rugby Africa Ladies’s Cup
Props
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 39 caps, 20 factors (4 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Ladies) – 9 caps, 0 factors
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Girls) – 9 caps, 0 factors
Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 factors (2 tries)
Anuschka Ekron (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 factors
Hookers
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) – 24 caps, 8 tries (40 factors)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 3 caps, 0 factors
Locks
Abigail Smit (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 0 factors
Anathi Qolo (captain, Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 11 caps, 5 factors (1 strive)
Zethu Gcaza (Border Girls) – uncapped
Free Forwards
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Ladies) – 3 caps, 5 factors (1 strive)
Religion Tshauke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 4 caps, 15 factors (3 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 2 caps, 0 factors
Ntsako Mbombi (Golden Lions Ladies) – uncapped
Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Scrumhalves
Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – uncapped
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 3 caps, 3 factors (1 penalty purpose)
Flyhalves
Mary Zulu (Sharks Ladies) – 15 caps, 40 factors (20 conversions)
Thami Yeko (EP Queens) – uncapped
Inside Backs
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Girls) – 30 caps, 70 factors (14 tries)
Jakkie Cilliers (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 103 factors (9 tries, 23 conversions, 4 penalty targets)
Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Exterior Backs
Nomawethu Mabenge (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 21 caps, 80 factors (16 tries)
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 factors
Shaunique Alexander (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Chuma Qawe (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 2 factors (1 conversion)
Travelling Administration
Laurian Johannes-Haupt (Assistant Coach)
Franzel September (Assistant Coach)
Robyn Bam (Analyst)
Dhavina Naidoo-Jewkes (Crew Physician)
Neda Isaacs (Physiotherapist)
Naasier Parker (Power and Conditioning)
Thandiswa Nxomani (Crew Supervisor)
The Springbok Ladies Fixtures on the 2026 Rugby Africa Ladies’s Cup on the RFUEA Sports activities Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya
Sat 23 Might, 13h00: Springbok Ladies v Madagascar
Wed 27 Might, 13h00: Springbok Ladies v Uganda
Solar 31 Might, 15h00: Springbok Ladies v Kenya
Unique Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with enhancing by gsport
Principal Picture Caption: Springbok Ladies captain Anathi Qolo will lead a 28-player touring squad to the 2026 Rugby Africa Ladies’s Cup, defending the continental title on the RFUEA Sports activities Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, from Saturday, 23 Might to Sunday, 31 Might 2026. Picture: Gallo Photographs / SA Rugby
