Steelcrest High School rugby players Raylee Phathakge and Oratile Finyade have been included in the first-ever SA Schools Girls’ team named by SA Rugby at the conclusion of a very successful FNB U18 Girls’ Week in Gqeberha.

It’s also the first time two SA Schools Girls squads have been named: the SA Schools Girls’ Squad and the SA Schools Girls’ A Squad.

The teams will face each other at Grey High School this Thursday (July 16), with the 52 selected players remaining in the Eastern Cape to prepare for the inaugural clash.

Finyade, Phathakge, Nokulinda Makhubela, and Angel Nxasane from the Pumas Girls’ Rugby Team have all been selected, earning places in the SA Schools and SA Schools A squads.

Isipho Dungelo (WP), Silakhe Masizana (EP), Nokulinda Makhubela (Pumas), Asive Gaqa (WP), Jessie Schoeman (WP, SA Schools Girls), and Naylha Jansen (SWD, SA Schools Girls A) played for the SA U18 Girls against their age-group counterparts from the Netherlands last December.

Former Springbok Women’s players Natasha Hofmeester and Zolisa Noxeke will coach the two squads.

Catherine Lowane will assist Hofmeester in coaching the SA Schools Girls’ team, while Nosipho Poswa, a former Springbok Women’s player, will assist Noxeke with the SA Schools Girls’ A team.

Albertus Buckle, an experienced former provincial prop, will assist both teams with their scrums, focusing on technical proficiency, body shape, stability, and power generation to enhance set-piece performance and ensure safety.

Former SA Schools coaches Katleho Lynch and Sean Erasmus will serve as mentors to the SA Schools Girls teams’ management.

SA Schools Girls squad

Props:

Isipho Dungelo (WP, Sophumela High School)

Lethokuhle Madwayi (WP, Curro Delft)

Likhona Masiza (WP, Sophumela High School)

Rethabile Kubequ (Golden Lions, Altmont Technical High School)

Hookers:

Silakhe Masizana (EP, Motherwell High School)

Shanelia Heugh (WP, Bellville Technical High School)

Locks:

Sine Rasmeni (WP, Langa High School)

Lisakhanya Kaptain (EP, Coselelani High School)

Nommah Sandifolo (WP, Bosmansdam High School)

Nokulinda Makhubela (Pumas, Mbuyane Secondary School)

Loose and utility forwards:

Inathi Nxiweni (WP, Athlone High School)

Surrender Chauke (Limpopo, Magoza Secondary School)

Asive Gaqa (WP, Ned Doman High School)

Inga Jim (WP, Curro Delft)

Oratile Finyade (Pumas, Steelcrest High School)

Scrumhalves:

Imange Norayase (Border, Similela Senior Secondary School)

Charlize Langeveldt (WP, DF Akademie)

Flyhalves:

Mia Kanka (WP, Rusthof High School)

Alice Ncube (Golden Lions, Kwa-bhekilanga Secondary School)

Centres:

Endinalo Fihla (WP, Usasazo High School)

Jessie Schoeman (WP, DF Akademie)

Raylee Phathakge (Pumas, Steelcrest High School)

Outside and utility backs:

Liyabona Kali (Border, Hlumani Secondary School)

Chariva Visagie (EP, Middelland Secondary School)

Nonhlanhla Thumbuni (Blue Bulls, Nellmapius Secondary School)

Anothando Mbada (EP, Motherwell High School).

SA Schools Girls A squad

Props:

Lindokuhle Mkonto (EP, Ithembelihle Comprehensive School)

Thando Hlakanyana (Golden Lions, Krugersdorp High School)

Limise Njoli (EP, Kwamagxaki High School)

Zeyaan Majiet (WP, Manenberg High School)

Hookers:

Charmaine Seodi (Limpopo, Magoza Secondary School)

Aqhama Siko (SWD, Percy Mdala High School)

Locks:

Kungawo Hlalukana (Border, Similela Senior Secondary School)

Anomtha Mamana (Border, Eyabantu Senior Secondary School)

Loose and utility forwards:

Palesa Nqadini (EP, Mzontsundu Secondary School)

Liyema Ngawuliswazi (Border, Tsholomnqa High School)

Mamello Motaung (Griffons, Rheederpark Combined School)

Lene Joubert (Valke, Breinmeester Akademie)

Natalie De Vos (EP, Middelland Secondary School)

Scrumhalves:

Elihle Sontsethe (Border, Dalibaso Secondary School)

Maira Hlatshwayo (Blue Bulls, Nellmapius Secondary School)

Flyhalves:

Angel Nxasane (Pumas, Hoërskool Standerton)

Zukhanye Roxa (Border, Eyabantu Senior Secondary School)

Centres:

Endinako Higa (Border, Hlumani Secondary School)

Busisiwe Wisani (Griffons, Rheederpark Combined School)

Naylha Jansen (SWD, George Secondary School)

Kelebohile Thate (Griffons, St Anne Combined School)

Outside and utility backs:

Oratilwe Moreke (Griffons, Welkom High School)

Alicia de Klerk (WP, Brackenfell High School)

Charnique Brown (EP, Alexandria High School)

Tatum-Joy Kaboni (SWD, George Secondary School)

Buncwane Komani (Border, Bhongolethu Secondary School).