Nompumelelo Mathe and Leigh Fortuin are in line to make their Springbok Women’s Sevens debuts next weekend after being named in the squad that will contest the Africa Women's Sevens tournament in Ghana on 9 and 10 November.
Mathe, who has played 20 tests for the Springbok Women as a loose forward, and Fortuin, who captained the Junior Springbok Women last month, will join an experienced group assembled by head coach Renfred Dazel for the event, to be played at the Rugby Stadium of the University of Ghana in Accra.
South Africa's most experienced women's sevens player, Mathrin Simmers, will again lead the team into battle, with several HSBC SVNS regulars again called upon for the trip to West Africa, where the top three teams will qualify for the World Rugby Challenger Series.
Two uncapped players have been included in the #BokWomen7s squad for their first assignment of the new season, in Ghana - more here: https://t.co/rUvN7goBXQ 💚💛#RiseUp pic.twitter.com/2cMwuH0vPV
— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 30, 2024
Dazel said Mathe and Fortuin made big impressions since they joined the Springbok Women's Sevens training camp for this campaign.
“Leigh has been with us before, but she was too young to be selected at the time, while Nompumelelo slotted in with ease when she arrived in camp, so I am expecting both of them to hit the ground running in Ghana,” said Dazel.
Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha, Felicia Jacobs, Maria Tshiremba and Nadine Roos rejoined the squad after representing the Springbok Women in the recent WXV 2 tournament and will link up with Kemisetso Baloyi, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Zandile Masuku and Liske Lategan, all regulars during the 2024 season.
“The players returning from fifteens are experienced sevens campaigners, so only a few tweaks were needed for them, while the rest came back in good condition after the rest they had post the Olympic Games,” said Dazel.
“We are training well at the moment. This is a very important tournament for us and everyone is well aware of that.”
The Springbok Women's Sevens will face Burkina Faso in their opening match, before taking on Zimbabwe and Tunisia in Pool A of the tournament.
The #BokWomen7s hard at work with the big one in #GhanaRugby coming up!@RugbyAfrique#RAW7s2024 pic.twitter.com/NPwcKytjH7
— SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) October 28, 2024
SPRINGBOK WOMEN'S SEVENS SQUAD FOR GHANA:
1. Leigh Fortuin *
2. Kemisetso Baloyi
3. Ayanda Malinga
4. Zintle Mpupha
5. Nompumelelo Mathe *
6. Felicia Jacobs
7. Maria Tshiremba
8. Shiniqwa Lamprecht
9. Nadine Roos
10. Mathrin Simmers (captain)
11. Zandile Masuku
12. Liske Lategan