Many South Africans may have thought that the Springbok rugby team played like girls in the Rugby World Cup tournament last year, but the country finally has the real McCoy - a Springbok rugby squad made up entirely of women.
New rugby boss Brian van Rooyen said South Africa was entering a new era with the announcement of the
26-member squad, who will receive national colours as the first women's Springbok rugby team.
And, according to Van Rooyen, South Africa could at last be back on top in world rugby when they play in the women's Rugby World Cup in 2006.
There was also another first for Springbok rugby with the announcement of a black player as captain of a Bok rugby team - Eastern Province's Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe will skipper the women Boks.
The team includes nine Blue Bulls and three Western Province players, Nadine Barnard, Dinah Zweni and Gloria Sullivan.
The women Amabokoboko are scheduled to play the first official tests in South Africa against Wales in May and June. The first test is in Port Elizabeth on May 29 and the second at Loftus in Pretoria on June 5.
The team is coached by Thobile Dunjwa and will be captained by Tsotsobe, who led the SA President's XV in a one-off encounter against an English Development team in 2003.
Tania Herwill is the team manager.
Van Rooyen, South African Rugby Football Union president, said the event marked a milestone in the history of rugby in the country.
"In 2002 we held a successful inter-provincial tournament. Last year we launched the first inter-provincial league, which has been an incredible success. I am pleased to say the women's code continues to be the fastest growing sport in South Africa."
Van Rooyen made a call to big business to support women's rugby.