The Springboks wrapped up their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg where they continued to put in the hard yards for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and the excitement among the three Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship winners was etched on their faces after what they described as an opportunity of a lifetime.
The Under-18 International Series kicks off on Friday at Hoërskool Durbanville in Cape Town, with South Africa's top young rugby talent taking on top-class international opponents from Europe.
Springbok Women flanker and Isuzu Bulls Daisies captain Lusanda Dumke is stepping away from rugby due to health concerns.
Final tweaks aside, a positive result will be massively important for the Springbok Women when they take on the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, as this will be their final match before the Rugby World Cup starts in England next month.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the team were gearing up for a testing Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, which kicks off against the Wallabies on Saturday 16 August in Johannesburg, and stressed the importance of their two-week training camp saying it was vital in ensuring that the coaches, players, and entire management team were aligned and prepared for the competition.
They were caught napping at times and were outplayed at others, but the Springbok Women resumed their training on Monday with renewed energy as they prepare to take on New Zealand’s Black Ferns XV for a second time this weekend.
The Springbok Women took another positive step towards the Rugby World Cup in England as they recovered from being outplayed by New Zealand’s Black Ferns XV in the first half of their match at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, to “winning” the second half.
Enjoy an image gallery of Banyana Banyana as they continue their preparations for their Women's Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoffs clash against Ghana on Friday.
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki is looking forward to taking charge of the team for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) next month.
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has named his squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) next month.