Having grown up in the Border region, shared change rooms at Western Province and the Bulls Daisies, as well as with the Springbok Women at the Rugby World Cup and the Springbok Women’s Sevens, one can almost expect Zintle Mpupha and Simamkele Namba to complete each other's sentences.
There were smiles all around for the Springbok Women after a productive hit-out with their French counterparts in Marcoussis, and according to assistant coach Laurian Johannes-Haupt the squad will benefit greatly from the training session heading towards the Rugby World Cup in August.
Springbok Women utility forwards Catha Jacobs and Lerato Makua will join their national teammates in Stellenbosch for a week-long training camp at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, the fourth such assembly in 2025 as the team build towards the Rugby World Cup in England later this year.
The Springboks will campaign to the conclusion of the next Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 under a new rallying cry launched.
The Springboks added prestigious continental awards to their impressive list of accolades following their back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles last year, when they received the Team of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Sports Awards in Lusaka, Zambia.
Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth became only the second player to win back-to-back SA Rugby’s Player of the Year awards when he was recognised for a stellar season at the SA Rugby Awards 2023 at a glittering ceremony at Multichoice City in Johannesburg.
Rassie Erasmus confirmed a re-purposed Springbok coaching and management team on Tuesday, as the newly re-appointed head coach began putting in place the building blocks for a 13-Test season in 2024 at the start of a new Rugby World Cup cycle.
The Springboks – who managed the impressive feat of winning back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles when they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in France last year – and national captain Siya Kolisi have been rewarded for their achievements yet again by being nominated for top Laureus awards.
The back-to-back world champion Springboks will return to the field for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup final at the iconic Twickenham Stadium in London when they take on Wales in a blockbuster Test on Saturday 22 June.
Rassie Erasmus – the mastermind behind the Springboks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles of 2019 and 2023 – has returned to the role of head coach for the next four years, following the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster.