Nine uncapped players are among the 31 invited to assemble in Stellenbosch on Sunday as the Springbok Women get their 2023 season underway.
Saliswa Miseli (Border Ladies), Vainah Ubisi (Mastercard Golden Lions Women); Mary Zulu (Cell C Sharks Women), Byhandre Dolf (EP Queens), Ruscha Garman, Leigh Fortuin, Thandolwethu Hena, Asiphe Mayaba (all DHL Western Province) and Lebogang Ralebona (Blue Bulls Women) are not unfamiliar with national squads however, with the core of them part of the Junior Springbok Women's squad from last year.
A number of players who played for South Africa in last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will also be absent due to injury, among them Zintle Mpupha, Sizophila Solontsi, Simamkele Namba, Rumandi Potgieter, Lindelwa Gwala and Nomawethu Mabenge, as well as the retired Zenay Jordaan and Catha Jacobs, who is currently with Saracens in England. Nadine Roos is Japan-bound, but will attend the camp.
SA Rugby’s High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, Lynne Cantwell, said the camp will assess current fitness levels, medical screening and some basic rugby fundamentals, with Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko assisting in the latter.
“We are restarting the Springbok Women's programme for the year and this camp will be a good start to see where we are in terms on our fitness, medical and core skills assessments,” Cantwell said.
"This is a fitness testing and core skills assessment camp where we’ll get baseline measures from each of the players across medical, fitness and five identified core rugby skills. As we face into the next World Cup cycle which will shift a gear in how we train and play, gathering our baselines in all these key areas will help us be targeted with our planning.
“The camp will also assist us in getting information from the players on their training when away from national camps. It’s exciting to be talking about growing the talent base and getting more player game exposure."
Cantwell confirmed that the vacancies among the coaching and management staff will be filled as soon as possible.
The Springbok Women's training squad: Aseza Hele (Boland Dames), Yonela Ngxingolo, Saliswa Miseli, Aphiwe Ngwevu, Eloise Webb (all Border Ladies); Vainah Ubisi (Mastercard Golden Lions Women); Mary Zulu, Nompumelelo Mathe, Tayla Kinsey (all Cell C Sharks Women); Sanelisiwe Charlie, Byhandre Dolf (EP Queens); Nolusindiso Booi, Azisa Mkiva, Chumisa Qawe, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Babalwa Latsha, Roseline Botes, Ruscha Garman, Leigh Fortuin, Luchell Hanekom, Thandolwethu Hena, Asiphe Mayaba (all DHL Western Province), Lerato Makua, Rights Mkhari, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, Nadine Roos, Lebogang Ralebona, Ayanda Malinga, Lusanda Dumke (all Blue Bulls Women).