Injury-hit Springbok women’s sevens turn to experience and youth for World Championship

Two familiar Springbok Women’s Sevens stalwarts have been recalled to the squad for the inaugural HSBC SVNS World Championship tournament, set to take place in Hong Kong next weekend.

Zintle Mpupha and Eloise Webb, who featured for the Isuzu Bulls Daisies and Sanlam Boland Dames respectively in last weekend’s Pick n Pay Women’s Super League (WSL) final, return to the sevens format as head coach Cecil Afrika finalised his squad for the Far East trip.

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Mpupha previously represented the national side at the HSBC SVNS tournament in Dubai this past January. Webb makes her return after last appearing in the 2024 season-ending event in Madrid. Both players were members of the Springbok Women’s squad at the Rugby World Cup in England last year.

In addition to the returning veterans, Afrika has handed call-ups to uncapped duo Jané Mulder and Owami Mohuli.

Mulder, a former SA Under-20 winger trained with the senior squad last year and featured for the "A" side in Dubai.

Mohuli; the Free State Women’s winger earned her spot following a standout WSL campaign where she crossed the whitewash three times in seven appearances.

Shanidiné Bezuidenhout and Maceala Samboya, key contributors to the team’s qualification during the HSBC SVNS 2 series, are also set to make their debut on the world’s biggest sevens stage.

The reshuffle comes in the wake of a gruelling medical report following the final tournament in Brazil.

Five players are currently sidelined, most notably captain and leading points-scorer Nadine Roos, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

The casualty list includes:

Liske Lategan and Shannon-Lee Windvogel (Post-surgery)

Simamkele Namba (Hamstring strain)

Patience Mokone (Knee injury)

Furthermore, Vianca Boer, Rights Mkhari, and Kayla Swarts remain in rehabilitation, while Leigh Fortuin and Kemisetso Baloyi are expected back later this season.

South Africa has been drawn in Pool B, where they will face powerhouse nations Australia, Canada, and Great Britain.

“We wanted to be in this position, to be where we can qualify as a core team again,” said Mpupha, the squad’s most experienced player. “It is a pity about the injuries... so we are also representing them next weekend. Coach Cecil has a good plan for us, and if we execute well, we will be able to surprise a few teams over there.”

The squad departs for Hong Kong this Sunday.