The Springbok Women's Sevens squad assembled in Stellenbosch on Monday for their first training block in preparation for World Rugby's Challenger Series in April this year.
Consecutive tournaments will be played at Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on 20-22 and 28-30 April, with the winner of the 12-team women’s Challenger Series to gain the ultimate prize of automatic promotion to the World Series 2024 – the pinnacle of international rugby sevens.
Lynne Cantwell, SA Rugby’s High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, confirmed the continued coaching role of Renfred Dazel until after the Challenger Series. Dazel took the role on an interim basis late last year and will guide the team in their quest to qualification.
“There are two blocks of preparation for the squad – our first block will be aimed at the Challenger Series and will start now until the end of April,” said Cantwell.
“The second block will commence in July when the squad start their preparation for the African Cup Sevens in October, with the winner qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.”
The first camp will see the return of a number of regulars, most notably Ayanda Malinga, who was ruled out of the HSBC Cape Town Sevens due to injury, and Zandile Masuku, who made her debut in a busy schedule last year before injury prevented her from playing at both Rugby World Cup Sevens and the HSBC Cape Town Sevens.
Springbok Women Sevens training squad: Marlize de Bruin, Rights Mkhari, Zintle Mpupha, Ayanda Malinga (all Blue Bulls Women), Asisipho Plaatjies, Mathrin Simmers, Snenhlanhla Shozi, Eloise Webb (all Border Ladies), Sizophila Solontsi (Cell C Sharks Women), Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens), Zandile Masuku (SWD Eagirls), Donelle Snyders, Felicia Jacobs, Simamkele Namba (all DHL Western Province).
