The Springbok Women’s Sevens squad is set to kick off their World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 campaign with two fresh faces making their international rugby sevens debuts.

Former Proteas hockey player Kayla Swarts and DHL Western Province scrumhalf Alicia Willemse have been named in the 12-player squad for the first tournament, set to take place at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on March 1-2 and 8-9.

Head coach Renfred Dazel has confirmed the inclusion of Swarts and Willemse in a team that blends experience with exciting new talent. Swarts, who represented South Africa in hockey at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, has successfully transitioned to rugby, impressing during the Dubai Invitational tournament.

Willemse, a recent addition to the squad due to injuries in the sweeper/flyhalf position, has also caught the coaching staff’s attention with her strong passing skills, quick footwork, and spatial awareness.

Dazel emphasised the collaborative effort between the Springbok Women’s XV and Sevens teams when selecting the squad: “We sat with the Springbok Women coaching staff to discuss selection as they also have the Rugby World Cup on their radar, and some players will be involved in both competitions.

“I am pleased with the way those discussions went, as both teams will benefit from our agreements.”

Experienced Core to lead the charge

The squad will be captained by Mathrin Simmers, South Africa’s most experienced women’s sevens player. She will be joined by five teammates who were part of the victorious 2023 Challenger Series campaign in Stellenbosch — Rights Mkhari, Zintle Mpupha, Kemisetso Baloyi, Nadine Roos, and Ayanda Malinga.

Additionally, Maria Tshiremba, Felicia Jacobs, and Shiniqua Lamprecht bring their HSBC SVNS experience, while Leigh Fortuin made her debut at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens last November.

Dazel believes this mix of experience and new energy will be crucial in navigating the demanding tournament format. “The format is such that you must win your pool to get into the semi-finals, so the pressure will be on all teams from the start.

“Playing at Athlone Stadium could add to the pressure, but it could also work in our favour. Either way, it remains special for our squad to compete at home in front of their supporters, and I know the team will make the most of it.”

Path to HSBC SVNS Qualification

The tournament in Cape Town serves as the first of three rounds in the Challenger Series. The top eight men’s and women’s teams after the two Cape Town weekends will advance to the third round in Krakow, Poland, on April 11-12. The top four ranked teams from there will qualify for the HSBC SVNS Play-off tournament in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they will compete for a place in next season’s elite HSBC SVNS circuit.

With a strong squad, home-ground advantage, and a clear goal of progressing to the next stage, the Springbok Women’s Sevens team is poised to make a statement in the Challenger Series. Rugby fans will be eager to see how Swarts and Willemse adapt to the fast-paced format as South Africa aims for a spot in the HSBC SVNS Play-offs.

Challenger Pools:

Pool A: South Africa, Czechia, Hong Kong, China

Pool B: Argentina, Thailand, Mexico

Pool C: Belgium, Uganda, Colombia

Pool D: Poland, Kenya, and Samoa

SA Fixtures – Saturday, March 1:

3.55pm: South Africa vs Hong Kong, China

7.36pm: South Africa vs Czechia

Springbok Women Sevens Squad: Leigh Fortuin, Zintle Mpupha, Felicia Jacobs, Maria Tshiremba, Kayla Swarts (uncapped), Nadine Roos, Mathrin Simmers (captain), Kemisetso Baloyi, Shiniqua Lamprecht, Ayanda Malinga, Alicia Willemse (uncapped), Rights Mkhari