Having safely arrived in Alicante, Spain from France on Sunday, the Springbok Women had a very productive first training session and according to Performance Coach Swys de Bruin, “Operation Spain” is now officially underway.
The Springbok Women outmuscled an England age-group side 50-17 in Marcoussis on Saturday, with a powerful scrum performance providing the foundation for a satisfactory win and end to their first week of touring France and Spain.
There are a number of objectives for the Springbok Women to reach when they face an England age-group team at Marcoussis in France on Saturday, but for Eloise Webb the most important job on the day would be to stick with structures and implement a good week of learning into the game.
There is a cold snap in the air in Krakow – and with eight becoming the chosen four at the end of the final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger tournament this weekend – also some desperation for some of the teams who converged on the Polish city since Monday.
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 speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, while Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time.
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.
A group of 34 players will assemble in Pretoria on Sunday for the Springbok Women’s second alignment camp of the year, as the national team’s preparations for the Rugby World Cup in England in Augustus picks up pace.
Springbok Women utility forward Sinzaso Mcatshulwa is looking forward to her stint at French club Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois and departed South Africa with a clear objective – to improve as a player and grow as a person.
The Springbok Women will play Brazil in their opening match of the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, facing their Pool D opponents for the first time at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday 24 August.