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SA women's rugby set for tour
11 March 2005
The South African national women's rugby team started a five-day camp in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday as part of their preparations for international competition culminating in the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2006.
Under coach Thobile Dunjwa, the 35-member squad is expected to take part in mid-week and Test games in the United Kingdom in April. Dunjwa says the tour should help the team prepare for top-quality competition when they play in the World Cup in Canada in August and September next year.
South Africa will be the first African country to take part in the Women's version of the World Cup, representing the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR).
The squad that is assembling in Port Elizabeth boasts 20 of the players who did battle against Wales last year, in an impressive Test debut for the Springbok Women.
In the first Test in Port Elizabeth they narrowly lost 5-8, while in the second Test in Pretoria a last-minute penalty
against the hosts left the hosts 15-16 losers.
'Immense, exciting talent'
SA Rugby manager Mahluvi Puzi says he is happy with the pace of development in the women's code. "We have immense, exciting talent in our country, and the team is developing into a world-class outfit. We are ready to take on any comers."
Puzi attributed the success of the women's team to the growth in the domestic provincial league, played monthly.
"It has been a huge success in unearthing talent", Puzi said. "It has served as a good platform to polish the skills of the players ... The standards are ever improving, and all the players want to impress."
The squad in Port Elizabeth:
Adele van der Westhuizen, Blue Bulls
Yolandi Marais, Blue Bulls
Marie Schoeman, Blue Bulls
Anne-Marie van Biljon, Blue Bulls
Wendy Khumalo, Blue Bulls
Nadia Muller, Blue Bulls
Izan Nieuwoudt, Blue Bulls
Ingrid Botha, Blue
Bulls
Marijke Nel, Blue Bulls
Yolande Meiring, Blue Bulls
Natasha Hofmeester, Boland
Cebisa Kula, Border
Babalwa Vena, Border
Dolly Mavumengwana, Border
Mandisa Williams, Border
Zolisa Noxeke, Border
Wendy Adlem, Eastern Province
Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe, Eastern Province
Saloma Julies, Eastern Province
Magdalene Pylman, Eastern Province
Ronwin Kelly, Eastern Province
Minkie Ncwadi, Eastern Province
Zandile Nojoko, Eastern Province
Louise Du Pisanie, Free State
Nita Heneke, Free State
Elanza Coetzee, Free State
Zanele Majeke, Golden Lions
Zilungile Makaula, KwaZulu-Natal
Ella Erasmus, South Western Districts
Lebeth October, South Western Districts
Chantal Siekers, Western Province
Nadine Barnard, Western Province
Mariska Loots, Western Province
Dinah Zweni, Western Province
Nomsa Tendekwana, Western Province
Source: SA Rugby
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