Future star of women’s rugby

Border flyhalf Mpupha has sights set on World Cup

MANY see her as the future of women’s rugby. Others call her the next Mandisa Williams – the current face of women’s rugby in South Africa.

Such high praise is definitely on point if the 2015 exploits of Zintle Mpupha – Border Rugby Union’s Women Player of the Year and Border Cricket’s Women Player of the Year – are anything to go by.

Born in Middledrift 22 years ago, Mpupha today finds herself as arguably the most influential player in the three-time championship success of Border Women’s Rugby.

This season she scored a staggering eight tries on her way to being crowned Sevens Player of the tournament at the SA Club Champs.

Surprisingly, Mpupha is more a star player in rugby than cricket although she was only introduced to the former at 16, having been a cricketer for years before that.

Mpupha started off her rugby career at the Winter Rose Rugby Club while still a pupil at Nyameko High School in Mdantsane before she was invited to Border Women’s Sevens at the age of 17.

She then made the cut for the SA under-20 side in 2012 and went on to represent SA Sevens a year later.

The human movement science graduate has mixed feelings about where her rugby career is going.

“I’m happy to be part of an exciting era in women’s rugby, especially for Border,” she said.

“I am unhappy that I sometimes find myself having to choose between Sevens and 15s which is really tough for me, but I will go for 15s any day.”

The young Border flyhalf also made it to the Springbok Select Women’s squad this year.

Were she to choose between rugby and cricket, Mpupha says her first love – the latter – would have to take the back seat.

Why? “There are more chances of making it to the top in rugby than in cricket.

“Look, for instance in cricket, I only made it to U19 as far as national teams are concerned – but I am with the senior national side in rugby.”

Mpupha has since set her sights on the next Women’s Rugby World Cup to showcase her scintillating skills on a global platform.

Top of her wish list for 2016 is to inspire the Border Women’s Rugby side to their fourth back-to-back national title.

“We set ourselves a goal of winning it five times in a row and my commitment is to seeing that become reality.”

Mpupha is touted as a future leader who will take on the baton from the highly influential Williams.

Williams agreed, praising the young Mpupha as the next big thing in women’s rugby.

“Here we are talking about a young, vibrant and up-and-coming superstar who is on fire as of now. However, I believe she is yet to reach her peak,” said Williams, who is also a Border Women’s Rugby coordinator.

“She has a bright future ahead of her. . . not only in rugby but whatever sport, or anything she puts her mind into,” Williams said.

“I have never seen such a driven individual.

“Zintle has tremendous discipline, dedication and commitment and that is what will take her far,” Williams continued.

“She has all the right qualities to become a Springbok Women’s Rugby captain in the future – she meets all the requirements and has hidden leadership skills that I am busy uncovering.”

Williams also sang the praises of Mpupha’s tenacity, saying the young flyhalf was “always pushing herself to work extra hard although she is virtually gifted with everything needed in a sports person.”