Milestones galore in 2026 for Springbok Women
Following a breakthrough year in 2025, the Springbok Women concluded their 2026 international season with more achievements, firsts and entries into the record books, while also leaving their mark on an ever-growing supporter base.
Following their unprecedented top eight finish at last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, much was expected of the South Africans in 2026 and despite some injury setbacks and a change in their coaching structures during the season, the Bok Women continued to set new standards.
The most notable was reaching the ninth place on the World Rugby rankings, their best placing since playing their first Test in 2004.
That was made possible by beating both the USA and Italy – both ranked higher than South Africa – in historic matches, while delivering good results in all competitions.
The season started with the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya in May, where the Bok Women, coached by Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September and captained by Anathi Qolo, outplayed Madagascar (64-5), Uganda (47-20), and Kenya (35-20) to defend their continental title and maintain their undefeated status in this tournament.
Jakkie Cilliers was the leading points scorer on this trip, dotting down twice and kicking two penalty goals and 15 conversions for a tournament tally of 46 points.
Alichia Arries scored four tries, while nine players – Thandile Mazwi, Abigail Smit, Zeze Gcaza, Logan Welman, Insaaf Levy, Naima Hlatshwayo, Shaunique Alexander, Siphenathi (Thamie) Yeko and Ntsako Mbombi – made their Test debuts.
Next up was the USA Eagles in a historic two-Test series – the first between the two countries on South African soil, and Babalwa Latsha was named as the team’s captain for the remainder of the season.
The Bok Women won the first Test by 34-21 at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg, but a week later the visitors registered a 26-19 victory at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria to level the series.
Libbie Janse van Rensburg kicked a conversion in the first Test to extend her points record to 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, one drop goal).
Another historic tour followed, this time to Fiji, where the Springbok Women outplayed their hosts by 55-12 in Suva and 29-22 in Lautoka. Johannes-Haupt and September again coached the side, with Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Maria Tshiremba earning their first caps.
Tshiremba scored three tries on debut in Lautoka to finish top try scorer, while Byrhandré Dolf topped the points scoring stats with 17 points (one try, six conversions).
Janse van Rensburg led the side in Suva, becoming the 12th Test captain for the Springbok Women.
After that tour, Swys de Bruin stepped away from his role as head coach, with Johannes-Haupt and September named interim co-head coaches for the remainder of the season.
A rematch of their WRWC quarter-final against New Zealand’s Black Ferns was next on the agenda, played at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg as part of Rugby Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and All Blacks. Vainah Ubisi scored two of the Springbok Women’s four tries in the match, won 52-20 by the visitors.
The WXV Global Series had the Springbok Women travelling to Wales, Italy and Spain in September. An opening defeat in Cardiff (50-19) was unexpected to say the least, but the recovery in Udine, where they beat Italy 41-29, and Seville, with a 20-0 victory over Spain, were much more to the script of the season.
For the Italy match, Sizophila Solontsi and Unam Tose were made co-captains, becoming the 13th and 14th players to lead the Springbok Women in Tests, and the victory at Stadio Omero Tognon was also a first against the hosts in Test rugby.
Cilliers again topped the scoring sheet on tour, with 21 points (one try, five conversions and two penalty goals), with Anushka Groenewald and Tshiremba each scoring twice in Europe.
The final two WXV Global Series matches were played at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town against Ireland, who also made their maiden journey to South Africa to take on the Springbok Women. Unfortunately, the results went in favour of the visitors, 40-27 and 38-17.
In the first encounter, prop Yonela Ngxingolo became only the second Springbok Women to reach 50 Test caps, with retired captain Nolusindiso Booi (55 caps) the other.
Source: Original report at SA Rugby.