Women Boks begin international season by capping new players for face-off with Spain

JOHANNESBURG - The Springbok Women will begin their international season with their first Test of the year against Spain in Valladolid on Saturday.

The team’s coach Louis Koen named four uncapped players in his matchday squad. 

Prop Xoliswa Khuzwayo and number 8 Anathi Qolo have been included in the starting line-up, while Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen (prop) and Samantha Els (utility forward) will make their debuts from the substitutes’ bench. 

"It is always nice to cap new players and, in this case, three of them came so close to selection in last year's WXV 2, when Xoliswa, Aliyah and Samantha just missed out on the final selection, while Anathi has showed tremendous growth since we invited her to join our alignment camps in December, January and February,” said Koen.

Bok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi will lead the team, once again, and extend her Test cap record to 41 appearances for the national team. 

Spain goes into the fixture as the favourites by virtue of being ranked one position above South Africa in World Rugby’s rankings, as well as being the hosts for this encounter. 

However, the Bok Women will have some confidence, since the last meeting between these two teams was a 35-20 win for SA in April 2023.

The game forms part of their preparation for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in May, where the winner will qualify for next year's Rugby World Cup in England.

The Springbok Women team to face Spain in Valladolid:

15. Chuma Qawe

14. Maceala Samboya

13. Veroeshka Grain

12. Piwokuhle Nyanda

11. Jakkie Cilliers

10. Byrhandrè Dolf

9. Tayla Kinsey

8. Anathi Qolo

7. Sinazo Mcatshulwa

6. Sinelitha Noxeke

5. Vainah Ubisi

4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain)

3. Babalwa Latsha

2. Lindelwa Gwala

1. Xoliswa Khuzwayo

Replacements:

16. Roseline Botes

17. Sanelisiwe Charlie

18. Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen

19. Danelle Lochner

20. Samantha Els

21. Rumandi Potgieter

22. Mary Zulu

23. Aphiwe Ngwevu