Springbok Women’s head coach Lawrence Sephaka has named his 26-member squad for the upcoming IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, which will take place from 1 to 17 August.
The squad includes 11 players with previous World Cup experience and will be led by experienced captain Mandisa Williams, who guided the team in the 2010 showpiece held in the United Kingdom as well as the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
Four players – Williams, flanker Lamla Momoti, prop Cebisa Kula and scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie – of the 26-member group will partake in their third World Cup, having played in 2006 and 2010.
“These players have worked very hard and have made many sacrifices in the last few months to work their way into contention for places in the World Cup squad, and their selection is just reward for those efforts,” said Sephaka.
“Our main selection criteria were consistency in performances this season and to select players with the best skills and technique, and I believe we achieved that with this group of players.”
South Africa, who finished 10th four years ago, were drawn in Group C alongside Australia, Wales and France.
South Africa squad:
Forwards – Celeste Adonis (Western Province), Nolusindiso Booi (Border), Nomathamsanqa Faleni (Eastern Province), Rachelle Geldenhuys (Blue Bulls), Portia Jonga (Eastern Province), Cebisa Kula (Eastern Province), Thantaswa Macingwana (Border), Lamla Momoti (Border), Nwabisa Ngxatu (Border), Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border), Vuyolwethu Vazi (Blue Bulls), Denita Wentzel (Western Province), Shona-Leah Weston (Blue Bulls), Mandisa Williams (Border, captain).
Backs – Siviwe Basweni (Border), Lorinda Brown (Eastern Province), Cindy Cant (Blue Bulls), Phumeza Gadu (Eastern Province), Veroeshka Grain (Western Province), Zenay Jordaan (Border), Tayla Kinsey (KwaZulu-Natal), Benele Makwezela (Western Province), Fundiswa Plaatjie (Border), Marithy Pienaar (Blue Bulls), Siphosethu Tshingana (Eastern Province), Ziyanda Tywaleni (Border).
