/ 17 June 2014

Springbok squad announced for Women’s Rugby World Cup

Scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie will be playing in her third World Cup.
Scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie will be playing in her third World Cup.

Springbok women’s coach Lawrence Sephaka has selected his 26-member squad for the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, which starts at the beginning of August.

The squad includes 11 players with prior World Cup experience, who will be aiming to guide the inexperienced contingent to glory in the tournament that takes place from August 1 to 17.

Number eight Mandisa Williams will captain the side. She led the team in the 2010 tournament in England, as well as at the 2013 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens competition in Moscow.

Four of the 11 experienced players – Williams, flank Lamla Momoti, prop Cebisa Kula and scrumhalf Fundiswa Plaatjie – played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments in Canada and England respectively.

The other previous World Cup players are prop Portia Jonga, locks Nomathamsanqa Faleni and Nolusindiso Booi, flyhalf Zenay Jordaan, wing Phumeza Gadu and centres Ziyanda Tywaleni and Lorinda Brown.

South Africa have been drawn to play in pool C with Australia, World Cup hosts France and Wales.

The team was scheduled to assemble on Wednesday for a training camp in Pretoria, followed by  a warm-up tour to London and France from June 25 to July 5. – Sapa

Springbok IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
Forwards: Celeste Adonis, Nolusindiso Booi, Nomathamsanqa Faleni, Rachelle Geldenhuys, Portia Jonga, Cebisa Kula, Thantaswa Macingwana, Lamla Momoti, Nwabisa Ngxatu, Asithandile Ntoyanto, Vuyolwethu Vazi, Denita Wentzel, Shona-Leah Weston and Mandisa Williams (captain).
Backs: Siviwe Basweni, Lorinda Brown, Cindy Cant, Phumeza Gadu, Veroeshka Grain, Zenay Jordaan, Tayla Kinsey, Benele Makwezela, Fundiswa Plaatjie, Marithy Pienaar, Siphosethu Tshingana and Ziyanda Tywaleni.

Springbok Women’s 2014 World Cup fixtures in Marcoussis, Paris
August 1: South Africa vs Australia
August 5: South Africa vs France
August 9: South Africa vs Wales