Latsha ready to captain Boks in Brakpan
Latsha takes over the captaincy duties from Nolusindiso Booi, who has been ruled out for the season after a foot injury.
Babalwa Latsha will lead the Springbok Women’s team, with Zinhle Ndawonde serving as her vice-captain for the Women’s Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, which runs from today (Friday) to August 17, in Brakpan. Latsha (prop) and Ndawonde (centre) were co-vice-captains on the team’s UK tour late last year, where they faced the UK Armed Forces, Wales, Spain and Italy, and after serving with distinction, Springbok Women’s coach Stanley Raubenheimer once again proved his faith in their leadership abilities.
Latsha takes over the captaincy duties from Nolusindiso Booi, who has been ruled out for the season after a foot injury, but with the player having led the team in the Test against Spain last year in the absence of Booi, she is no stranger to the role.
The Springbok Women’s team assembled in Pretoria last Thursday to begin their preparations for the Qualifier, which will see them face Uganda on Friday, Madagascar on Tuesday, August 13, and Kenya on Saturday, August 17.
Read: Springbok Women battle for a place in 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup
All the matches will be taking place at the Bosman Stadium.
Latsha was delighted about being handed the captaincy and added that she was pleased with how things have fallen into place since the squad assembled last week.
“It is an amazing feeling to be appointed to lead the team – I am very grateful for the opportunity; it is a true honour and privilege,” said Latsha.
“We have gelled quite nicely since our last interaction and we understand one another, so we are really looking forward to taking to the field.
“It will be a massive challenge to qualify for the World Cup, but I think we are up to it.
There is a great buzz in the team, and we are all very excited about this opportunity.
Our supporters certainly won’t be disappointed with the plans and our commitment to the cause.
“We have been working very hard over the last few days, and we are very focused on the task at hand.”
The tournament will see each of the four participating teams take on each other over three rounds of matches, with the top side on the standings at the conclusion of the competition booking their place in the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
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