Sarfu names first-ever women's national team
Published
The South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) on Friday announced the names of the first women rugby players to earn the National colours in the sport.
The squad of 26 is scheduled to play the first official women's Tests in South Africa against Wales in May and June. The first Test is in Port Elizabeth's Adcock Stadium on May 29 and the second in Pretoria at Loftus on June 5.
The team is coached by Thobile Dunjwa and will be captained by Eastern Province's Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe, who led the SA President's XV in a one-off encounter against and English Development team in 2003. Tania Herwill is the Team Manager.
Sarfu president Brian van Rooyen said the event marked a milestone in the history of rugby in the country. "The announcement of the first women's national team will go down as an important event in the history of our game in South Africa," said Van Rooyen. "The women of South Africa have now taken our game to new heights.
"I am pleased that our plan to take part in the Women's World Cup in 2006 is taking shape. We laid the foundation when we started with women's rugby in the year 2001, launching on National Women's Day.
"In 2002 we held a successful Inter-Provincial tournament. Last year we launched the first inter-provincial league, which has been an incredible success. I am pleased to say the women's code continues to be the fastest growing sport in South Africa."
Van Rooyen also made a call to big business to support the women's code. "It is unfortunate that at this stage we have not been able to secure sponsorship for women's rugby. I hope that the corporate community will see great value in aligning themselves with the development of women's rugby."
- Squad: Anne-Marie van Biljon, Naomi Groenewald, Izan Nieuwoudt, Anneline Klopper, Denise Vermeulen, Jackie Potgieter, Yolanda Miering, Adele van der Westhuizen, Ingrid Botha (all Blu Bulls), Cebisa Kula, Nomsa Tendekwana, Zolisa Noxeke (both Border), Nosipo Poswa, Wendy Adlem, Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe, Vuyokazi Mbonda, Ronwin Kelly, Magdalene Pylman, Saloma Julies (all Eastern Province), Louise du Pisanie (Free State), Zanele Majeke (Golden Lions), Zilungile Makaula (KZN), Lebeth October (SWD), Nadine Barnard, Dinah Zweni, Gloria Sullivan (all Western Province)
- Management team
Thobile Dunjwa - Coach (Eastern Province)
Jan Hanekom - Assistant Coach (Blue Bulls)
Christie Noble - Assistant Coach (Mpumalanga)
Tania Herwill - Manager (Falcons)
Nceba Hene - Fitness Coach (Western Province)
Ryan Kohler - Doctor (Western Province)
Jacqui McCord - Physiotherapist (Blue Bulls)
Sapa