Welcome to the first 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.
ZINTLE MPUPHA
PHYSICAL: 72kg & 1.61m DOB: 25/12/1993
PROVINCIAL TEAM: DHL Western Province
TEST DEBUT: 2018 v Wales, Cardiff
The ultra-versatile Mpupha signed with Exeter Chiefs shortly after a record four tries in a test match and 26 test points against Kenya in August.
The Human Movement Sciences graduate captained the Springbok Women’s Sevens team at both the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens & Commonwealth Games and made a second RWC7s appearance in Cape Town earlier this month.
She is a powerhouse in the midfield and a good coordinator in defense, while she can also play at flyhalf due to her good kicking skill set. Mpupha was a national age group cricket player before she moved all her focus to rugby.
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LIBBIE JANSE VAN RENSBURG
PHYSICAL: 72kg & 1.78m DOB: 28/09/1994
PROVINCIAL TEAM: Blue Bulls Women
TEST DEBUT: 2021 v Kenya, Stellenbosch
It is hard to believe Janse van Rensburg only turned to XV’s full time after rugby resumed post-Covid in 2021. Before that, she played for South Africa at the Touch Rugby World Cup, toured France in 2016 with the Springbok Women’s Sevens, had a stint in New Zealand in 2019 with the Mount Maunganui Marlins and was appointed rugby development manager at the University of Pretoria.
She hit the straps immediateley in XV’s and was the leading points’ scorer in the 2021 provincial season, prompting national coach, Stanley Raubenheimer, to give her a chance at the highest level. Ten tests in, she is closing in on 100 career points and a second drop goal.
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LUSANDA DUMKE
PHYSICAL: 68kg & 1.56m DOB: 11/09/1996
PROVINCIAL TEAM: Border Ladies
TEST DEBUT: 2018 v Wales, Cardiff
The current SA Rugby Women’s Achiever of the Year had a wonderful 2021 season and continued with her form in 2022, finishing the last test match with a very strong performance against Spain.
Dumke captains Border Ladies, the provincial champions, and did a good job when leading out her country in last year’s two test series against Kenya. She has played for the Springbok Women’s Sevens as well, a fair reflection in her versatility as a ball carrier, but also a loose forward who don’t mind the stuff on the floor.