The Springbok Women's Sevens team kept their undefeated run at the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens Cup going by beating Kenya 22-0 in the 2025 final, completing a remarkable performance where they did not concede any points during the entire tournament.
After steamrolling Ghana 48-0 and Madagascar 29-0 in the quarter- and semi-finals earlier on Sunday, the SA side had good momentum going into the final against Kenya, who outplayed Uganda for the finals berth.
The victory also confirmed that the Bok Women qualified for the eight-team Division Three competition that will be staged as a standalone Challenger event in Dubai in January.
The first half of the final was a tight affair. Kenya started well, and the South Africans were penalised at the breakdown often, but their tactics of quick tap penalties did not bear any fruit.
Instead, it was South Africa who struck first when Shiniqwa Lamprecht saw a gap from a set piece, stepped inside some players and raced to the line to score five minutes in. Nadine Roos converted, and at the break, the lead was 7-0.
The next try, from the restart of the second half, sealed the deal. In long, flowing movements, the Bok Women took the ball through numerous phases before Simamkele Namba was the recipient of the final pass, and the lead jumped to 12-0.
Not to be outdone by her fellow backs, wing Patience Mokone then finished in style, stepping her opponent on the inside after a flowing backline move that silenced the crowd as they realised their Lionesses were tamed by the South Africans.
Nadine Roos drove the final nail in the coffin following a quick tap from a penalty, extending the winning margin an impressive 22 points.
Maria Tshiremba was in devastating form against Ghana and scored three tries in the first half of the quarter-final. Lamprecht scored a brace as the defending champions raced to a 29-0 lead at the break.
The second half delivered three more tries – a brace from Ayanda Malinga and one from Leigh Fortuin.
Against Madagascar, the South Africans dominated possession and territory and never looked in trouble. Namba was very sharp on attack and scored a first-half brace on their way to a 17-0 lead at the break.
The second half delivered more fruit on attack, with Zintle Mpupha scoring early and Liske Lategan late in the half for South Africa to go into the final with momentum.
Scorers:
Quarter-final: South Africa 48 (29), Ghana 0 (0)
SA – Tries: Shiniqwa Lamprecht (2), Maria Tshiremba (3), Ayanda Malinga (2), Leigh Fortuin. Conversions: Nadine Roos (2), Byrhandré Dolf (2)
Semi-final: South Africa 29 (17), Madagascar 0 (0)
SA – Tries: Simamkele Namba (2), Maria Tshiremba, Zintle Mpupha, Liske Lategan. Conversions: Nadine Roos (2).
Final: South Africa 22 (7), Kenya 0 (0)
SA – Tries: Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Simamkele Namba, Patience Mokone, Nadine Roos. Conversion: Roos.