Vianca Boer to Captain Springbok Women's Sevens A Team in Kenya

Vianca Boer will lead the Springbok Women's Sevens A team in the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens tournament in Kenya, where they will face Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda in Pool A. The team, selected by head coach Cecil Afrika, features a mix of experienced players and rising stars. This blend of talent is aimed at building depth and accelerating development ahead of the 2027 season. The squad includes four senior players with HSBC SVNS experience.

The team comprises players from various sporting backgrounds, including cross-code athletes from hockey and water polo. Winger Voice Ndou, who is eligible to play for South Africa again after sitting out for the required number of seasons, is also part of the squad. Ndou previously played for the SA Students sevens and Zimbabwe's Lady Cheetahs. The squad also features recent Junior Springbok Women representatives, including Mohuli, Haylee Hardneck, Siphumelele Mdlalose, and Tereské Kabuika-Ilunga.

Four players in the squad have HSBC SVNS experience, including Boer, Jané Mulder, Shanidiné Bezuidenhout, and Owami Mohuli. They will provide guidance to the younger players, who are eager to gain international experience. The team's participation in the Nairobi event is seen as a vital pathway test, with one qualifying spot for World Rugby's HSBC SVNS 3 series up for grabs.

Although South Africa has already secured a spot in the HSBC SVNS 2 series, starting in January next year, their participation in the Kenya tournament will allow Afrika to give valuable experience to the young group of players. The team's preparations for the 2027 season are ramping up, and this tournament will be an essential part of their development.

Head coach Cecil Afrika found selecting the final squad challenging. He emphasized that talent was only one of the selection criteria, with those excelling in training, having the right attitude, dedication, and discipline getting selected. Afrika expressed his expectations for the team's performance, stating, "We are not going there to lose; we want to deliver performances that will make us proud and successful at the same time."

The Springbok Women's Sevens A team's participation in the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens tournament will provide them with an opportunity to test their skills against international opponents. The team's youthful squad and blend of experienced and inexperienced players will make for an interesting tournament.

The Rugby Africa Women's Sevens tournament will take place in Nairobi, with South Africa competing against Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda in Pool A. The team's performance will be crucial in their pathway to the 2027 season, and they will look to make a positive impact in the tournament.

Key points

• The Springbok Women's Sevens A team, led by Vianca Boer, will compete in the Rugby Africa Women's Sevens tournament in Kenya against Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.