Booi gets the armband

Tough tour kicks off with British Army side first up

BORDER women’s rugby captain, Nolusindiso Booi, has been selected as captain of the South African Select women’s team for their opening match of their tour of England in Aldershot today.

Booi, along with eight of her teammates, were selected in the 23-women squad to take on the British Army.

In the backline four Border players, in fullback Snenhlanhla Shozi, right-wing Unathi Mali, inside centre Aphiwe Ngwevu and left-wing Nosiphiwo Goda will line up along with three more in the forwards, in flank Lusanda Dumke, lock Booi and prop Asithandile Ntoyanto.

On the bench, replacement prop Thuliswa Capa and scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie will also look to get on the park during the match.

“We are very excited to kick off the tour,” said Booi.

“Every player in the group is focused on laying a solid foundation in our opening match, so we cannot wait to take to the field.”

Booi, who was a member of the Springbok Women’s team that participated in the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, was excited about the mixture of youth and experience in the touring group, and said the nine players with senior international 15s or Sevens experience would play an important role on and off the field.

“We are expecting a tough test in all three matches, but fortunately there are a number of players in the squad who have international experience, while others represented the country at U20 level, and that will be invaluable in guiding the younger players,” said Booi.

“We have been putting the building blocks in place at our respective provincial unions for the last few months, and we had a good training camp in Stellenbosch, so we are now ready to see what we can do on the field.

“We know what is expected of us. The next step is to implement what we have been doing at training against quality opposition.”

The SA Select Women’s team to face the British Army feature two players who participated in the 2014 Rugby World Cup in France, and four players who have previously been involved in the Springbok Women’s Sevens squad.

Today’s match will be followed by games against the England Academy team next week Wednesday and then again next week Sunday.