Springbok Women aim higher

SPRINGBOK Women’s rugby coach Stanley Raubenheimer has included 18 members of the 2018 team in a squad of 40 players who have been invited to a national women’s assessment camp in Worcester next week.

The group includes Nolusindiso Booi, who captained the Springbok Women on their European Tour in November last year, vice-captains Babalwa Latsha and Zinhle Ndawonde, and stalwarts Tayla Kinsey, Thantaswa Macingwane and Charmaine Kayser.

The squad also features six of the contracted Springbok Women’s Sevens players - Zenay Jordaan, Zintle Mpupha, Mathrin Simmers, Rights Mkhari, Eloise Webb and Nadine Roos.

The players will assemble at HTS Drostdy in Worcester on Tuesday when they will be put through strength and conditioning tests and training sessions with an eye on the international season which starts later in the year.

“The purpose of the camp is for us to measure the players’ fitness and strength levels,” said Raubenheimer.

He was pleased with the foundation laid last year and said they would like to raise the bar this season.

“This camp will serve as the perfect opportunity for us to see who is serious about representing the Springbok Women and who is prepared to put in the hard yards, both at camp and on their own,” said Raubenheimer.

“Once the assessments are completed I intend to speak to the players about where they are and what they need to work on, so they will get homework, and it will be their responsibility to work on those areas when they return to their provinces.

“We have a long-term goal, so it is important that we have players who can adhere to the standards we set and who we can work with for the next three years because we aim to be competitive against the top teams in the world.”

National Women’s assessment camp squad: Nolusindiso Booi (WP), Kirsten Conrad (WP), Nellodene De Wee (Griquas), Xolelwa Diliza (Border), Lusanda Dumke (Border), Maxine Engelbrecht (Griquas), Gabby Fisher (Boland), Lindelwa Gwala (KZN), Aseza Hele (EP), Anelca Hess (Boland), Alana-Lee Horne (WP), Onaka Jita (Boland), Zenay Jordaan (SA Rugby), Charmaine Kayser (WP), Tayla Kinsey (KZN), Sibabalwa Klaas (EP), AmyKay Klaasen (WP), Babalwa Latsha (WP), Thantaswa Macingwane (EP), Lerato Makua (Blue Bulls), Ayanda Malinga (Pumas), Kimico Manuel (WP), Vuyolwethu Maqholo (WP), Nompumelelo Mathe (KZN), Sinazo Mcatshulwa (WP), Rights Mkhari (SA Rugby), Nomsa Mokwai (WP), Katlego Moremi (Blue Bulls), Zintle Mpupha (SA Rugby), Zinhle Ndawonde (KZN), Demi Nel (WP), Yonela Ngxingolo (Border), Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border), Asithandile Ntoyanto (Border), Chumisa Qawe (Border), Nadine Roos (SA Rugby), Mathrin Simmers (SA Rugby), Sizophile Solontsi (KZN), Bernice Strydom (Free State), Eloise Webb (SA Rugby). | African News Agency (ANA)