The Springbok Women will charge into the 2025 Rugby World Cup with a squad built on a backbone of experience, a dash of fresh fire and, crucially, combinations that clicked just in time. Named at FNB Stadium on Saturday, the 32-player contingent features 19 players who have already felt the heat of rugby’s biggest stage.
At the helm stands Nolusindiso Booi, the most-capped Springbok Women’s player and most experienced Test captain, returning for her fourth World Cup campaign.
“Nolu” has led the Boks 23 times, her voice and vision as steady as a lock forward’s binding in a scrum. She will be partnered in leadership by vice-captain Babalwa Latsha, herself a veteran of 14 Tests as skipper, including the recent Black Ferns XV series.
That victory at Athlone Stadium over the visiting New Zealanders not only injected belief into the Bok camp but also gave performance coach Swys de Bruin the final answers he needed before the squad announcement.
That [match against the Black Ferns XV] was Godsent, and I’ll tell you why I say that. I said we needed two or three more games to get the combinations sorted and after that game I realised those were the combinations we wanted to look at.
I tried Libbie [Janse van Rensburg] at 12, Eloise [Webb] at 10; she trained so well there. But I realised she’s a 13, maybe a 15. I now know Libbie is a 10 but can cover as a 12. And then Nadine [Roos] nine, 10 and 15 – it doesn’t matter where you play her.
Some people said she needs space to play 15, she talks a lot, and she calls it, especially in defence, she does well there. But I realised if you play her at nine, she gets the forwards going. So, the combinations worked out perfectly for us in that game. If it wasn’t for that last game, we would’ve been in doubt about the combinations.
A Mix of Steel, Spark, and Settled Combinations
The squad carries 689 Test caps in total, with Booi (2010, 2014, 2022) and scrumhalf Tayla Kinsey (2014, 2022) the most experienced campaigners. But the team sheet also introduces eight forwards and four backs making their World Cup debut, from lock Anathi Qolo to wing Maceala Samboya. This will add fresh legs for a long tournament road.
De Bruin said the selection process was “very difficult” because margins were so fine:
I sat with the coaching staff every day, working through clips, and we looked for certain things. At the end of the day, we came through with the 32 that we thought were the right ones. I’m sorry for the 33-40 and the rest. They must understand it is a contact game. There might be injuries or problems where we need to pull in those resources.
The Bok Women assembled in Johannesburg on 12 August before flying to England two days later. They open against Brazil in Northampton (24 August), then face Italy in York (31 August) and France back in Northampton (7 September).
In World Cups, every match is a ruck for survival. Thanks to that timely win over the Black Ferns XV, South Africa now step onto the plane with belief, tactical clarity, and a squad whose mix of battle-hardened veterans and eager rookies could yet bind into something formidable.
Nolusindiso Booi – Captain, Lock
A pillar of the Bok pack and the heartbeat of the team’s forward momentum. With 52 caps and leadership honed over four World Cups, Booi’s lineout command and calm authority under pressure will be vital in high-stakes moments.
Babalwa Latsha – Vice-Captain, Prop
The anchor in the front row and a proven leader in her own right. Latsha’s scrummaging power, work rate in open play, and ability to inspire her teammates make her a driving force when the Bok Women need to grind down opposition packs.
South Africa 2025 World Cup squad
Props:
- Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 10 points (2 tries) *;
- Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 8 caps, 0 points);
- Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *;
- Babalwa Latsha (vice-captain, unattached) – 36 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *;
- Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 5 caps, 0 points
Hookers:
- Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers Women, England) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try) *;
- Lindelwa Gwala (unattached) – 35 caps, 75 points (15 tries) *;
- Luchell Hanekom (Western Province) – 9 caps, 0 points)
Locks:
- Nolusindiso Booi (captain, Western Province) – 52 caps, 5 points (1 try) *;
- Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries);
- Nomsa Mokwai (Western Province) –13 caps, 0 points;
- Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) – 9 caps, 5 points (1 try);
- Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 18 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Utility and loose forwards:
- Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 28 caps, 65 points (13 tries) *;
- Catha Jacobs (unattached) – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try) *;
- Lerato Makua (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries) *;
- Sinazo Mcatshulwa (unattached) – 38 caps, 55 points (11 tries) *;
- Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 28 caps, 45 points (9 tries) *;
- Faith Tshauke (Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Scrumhalves:
- Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 12 points (2 tries, 1 conversion) *;
- Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 40 caps, 53 points (3 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)*
Flyhalves:
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 209 points (12 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalties, 1 drop goal) *;
- Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 15 caps, 40 points (20 conversions)
Centres:
- Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 26 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions) *;
- Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 27 caps, 60 points (12 tries) *;
- Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries) *;
- Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 17 caps, 30 points (6 tries) *
Outside backs:
- Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 106 points (9 tries, 23 conversions, 5 penalty goals)*;
- Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) – 13 caps, 65 points (13 tries);
- Maceala Samboya (Boland Dames) – 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Utility backs:
- Byrhandré Dolf (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 37 points (7 tries, 1 conversion);
- Nadine Roos (unattached) – 18 caps, 35 points (5 tries, 5 conversions)*
* Denotes previous RWC experience.
Pool D schedule (SA times)
▶️ Sunday 24 August: 15.45: SA v Brazil (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton)
▶️ Sunday 31 August: 16.30: SA v Italy (York Community Stadium, York)
▶️ Sunday 7 September: 17.45: SA v France (Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton)
