Welcome to the second of our four-part series introducing you to members of the Springbok Women's squad that will represent South Africa at the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand during the next couple of weeks.
In this series you'll get to hear every Springbok featured telling you their own life story and what representing the Springboks mean to them.
TAYLA KINSEY
PHYSICAL: 65kg & 1.65m DOB: 05/09/1993
PROVINCIAL TEAM: Cell C Sharks
TEST DEBUT: 2013 v Uganda, East London
Kinsey was the youngest squad member of the 2014 Rugby World Cup squad in France, where she played in three matches, debuting against France
She then left to play some club rugby in England, where she donned the Aylesford Bulls jumper for two seasons. She returned to Europe in 2019 with the Springbok Women and has been a senior squad member ever since.
A solid kicker of the ball, Kinsey has been used as a back-up flyhalf as well, adding to her value to the team.
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LERATO MAKUA
PHYSICAL: 70kg & 1.72m DOB: 12/07/1999
PROVINCIAL TEAM: Blue Bulls Women
TEST DEBUT: 2021 v Wales (Cardiff)
Makua is one of a number of younger players who found their way to rugby through SA Rugby’s Youth Training Centres, where she was first spotted playing for the Blue Bulls Under-16s.
She was named in the Junior Springboks Women and then it was just a matter of time before she would make her international debut, which came during the November Series in 2021. Makua, named as utility forward on the bench, had to cover on the wing on debut, a job she did with aplomb.
It was no surprise when she was roped into the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad in 2022, where she played in the HSBC World Series and most recently, in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. Her speed is a massive asset, but her work rate even more so.
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SANELISIWE CHARLIE
PHYSICAL: 95kg & 1.63m DOB: : 01/05/2000
PROVINCIAL TEAM: EP Queens
TEST DEBUT: 2021 v Kenya, Stellenbosch
Charlie is one of the young stars amongst the next generation of props and played for the national u20 side who toured Zimbabwe in 2019. When the season resumed in 2021, delivered some telling performances for her province, hence her call-up for the series against Kenya, where she started in the second test.
Not shying away from the rough stuff, the loose head adds very good defence to her powerhouse scrumming ability and if she continues her development as a test player looks set to play in the next Rugby World Cup as well, should the opportunity arise