Dumke declared fit for WXV 2 campaign

Lusanda Dumke, a former SA Women's Player of the Year, has been included in the Springbok Women’s squad of 30 players for WXV 2, to be played in Cape Town from 27 September to 13 October, while Maria Tshiremba has also been included in the group.

Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin decided to rope in Tshiremba, who has played at international level before, for the Springbok Women's Sevens team. The Bulls Daisies speedster is the only uncapped player in the squad.

Neither were involved in Thursday's 36-19 victory over Spain at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, the same venue where South Africa will face Japan on Friday in their WXV 2 opener.

Dumke has recovered from a foot injury sustained in the Women's Premier Division final, where she captained the Bulls Daisies to a second title in as many years, while Tshiremba's inclusion comes after Shaunique Hess (wing) suffered a hand fracture against Spain, ruling her out of the tournament.

“It is great to have Lusanda fit and ready to go,” said De Bruin. “She has massive experience and brings not only a wonderful breakdown ability to the squad, but strong leadership as well.

"It was unfortunate for Shaunique to sustain the injury so close to WXV, but that opens the door for Maria, who really impressed me since she joined the squad almost five weeks ago and her sheer pace will be a factor. We were lucky to have a small group of standby players with us in Cape Town, so Maria could slot in the moment Shaunique's injury was confirmed.

“I am pleased with the squad, I think we have a good mix of forward power and play-making ability amongst the backs to be very competitive when we face Japan, Australia and Italy in the coming weeks.”

In total, 18 of the group were part of the inaugural event last year, where South Africa played Scotland, Italy and Samoa to finish in third position.

Maria Tshiremba

Springbok Women’s WXV 2 fixtures:

South Africa v Japan

Date: Friday, 27 September

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 16h00

South Africa v Australia

Date: Saturday, 5 October

Venue: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 17h00

South Africa v Italy

Date: Saturday, 12 October

Venue: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 14h00

<< VIEW THE FULL MATCH SCHEDULE HERE >>

Springbok Women squad for WXV 2 2024:

Backs (14):

Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Bulls Daisies) – 23 caps, 204 points (11 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Byrhandrè Dolf (Bulls Daisies) - 14 caps 15 points (3 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) - 4 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Ayanda Malinga (Bulls Daisies) - 8 Tests, 50 points (10 tries)
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies) – 14 caps, 74 points (7 tries, 15 conversions, 3 penalty goals)
Zintle Mpupha (Bulls Daisies) – 21 caps, 101 points (19 tries, 3 conversions)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 23 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Eloise Webb (Border Ladies) – 11 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Chumisa Qawe (Bulls Daisies) – 16 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Nadine Roos (unattached) – 12 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 6 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Tayla Kinsey (Sharks Women) – 36 caps, 48 points (2 tries, 16 conversions, 2 penalty goals)
Unam Tose (Bulls Daisies) - 20 Tests, 0 points

Forwards (16):
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 22 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province) – 32 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Sizophila Solontsi (Bulls Daisies) – 22 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Lusanda Dumke (Bulls Daisies) - 30 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies) - 4 caps, 0 points
Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) - 16 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 13 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies) – 15 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Nolusindiso Booi (captain, DHL Western Province) – 46 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Azisa Mkiva (DHL Western Province) – 10 caps, 0 points
Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women) – 30 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies) – 19 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women) – 33 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province) - 20 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) - 8 caps, 0 points)

WXV 2 Springbok Women Swys de Bruin Lusanda Dumke Maria Tshiremba

Hanekom: “Unbelievable experience” with the Boks...

Cameron Hanekom described the last week with the national team in Jersey as a “dream come true” and said he was so surpr...

Mthethwa added to Junior Bok coaching staff...

SA Rugby has announced the addition of Melusi Mthethwa to the Junior Springbok coaching staff, with the former Shimlas a...

Nortje all in for Blitzboks’ new sevens season...

Quewin Nortje can still recall his emotions when he walked into the Springbok Sevens set-up a year ago, not quite knowin...

Mathe, Fortuin named in Bok Women's Sevens squad...

Nompumelelo Mathe and Leigh Fortuin are in line to make their Springbok Women’s Sevens debuts next weekend after being n...

Stick pleased with building blocks for Bok tour...

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said he was pleased with the team’s first two days of preparations for the Cas...

The 2024 Carling Currie Cup Bulletin #24

Jordan Hendrikse broke the hearts of his former Fidelity ADT Lions team-mates and supporters when he succeeded with a last-minute long-range penalty goal to hand the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV a dramatic 16-14 victory in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final at Emirates Airline Park in a cold and wet Johannesburg on Saturday evening after a scoreless first half.

The 2024 Carling Currie Cup Bulletin #23

The 2024 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division will come to a thrilling conclusion in Johannesburg on Saturday when the Fidelity ADT Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV meet in the final – the first between these two teams since 2011 – which is scheduled to kick off at 16h00 at Emirates Airline Park.

Boks to treat Pumas with the respect they deserve

The Springboks emphasised the importance of treating Argentina with the respect they deserve and sticking to their own systems as they prepare to line up against their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title contenders in Santiago del Estero on Saturday, where victory for South Africa will see them clinch the title for the first time since 2019, with a match in hand in Nelspruit next week.

Bok Women grind Spain into submission in CT

The Springbok Women delivered a masterclass in forward physicality as they beat Spain by 36-19 (half-time 12-7) in cold and blustery conditions in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon, setting the perfect tone for WXV 2, starting in eight days’ time in the Mother City.

Du Toit: “It’s going to be a clash of the Titans”

Springbok prop Thomas du Toit billed the scrum duel between South Africa and Argentina as a “clash of the Titans” and said it would be a battle of attrition until the final whistle.

Boks will use lessons from Pumas loss in Nelspruit

The Springboks will take the lessons learned in their heart-breaking 29-28 defeat against Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero into what is essentially the deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit this Saturday.

“We owe it to SA and ourselves to bounce back”

Springbok assistant coach Daan Human said the team owed it to the country and themselves to bounce back strongly when they face Argentina in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Applauding departing Schoeman’s contribution

SA Rugby applauded and thanked outgoing Springbok Sevens High Performance Manager, Marius Schoeman, for his highly successful contribution to the national sevens programme for more than a decade on Monday.

Bok Women simply 'minding their own business’

The Springbok Women are simply just “minding their own business” and there is a clear focus on what they want to achieve in their opening WXV 2 clash against Japan at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.

Etzebeth hits record as Hendrikse and Libbok start

Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit Saturday when he runs out at lock against Argentina, while Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting halfbacks for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium.