Rugby Union Players From South Africa

"But she was happy with me playing as soon as rugby wanted to pay for my tertiary fees, so that's how I started playing, and I played for the Sharks for over nine years before I now joined the Bulls Daisies"

"So starting from the domestic games, coming into national games, I’ve just been determined to keep my game on point and grow so much from it. I then took motivation from my teammates and learned from them"

"I’m one of the youngest players in this team. So I’m always talking with the most experienced player.So staying with them in the same environment just motivates me. And then the thing that they say to me is something that motivates a person. So I think that’s also the thing that they advise me on.That’s the thing that keeps me going"

"Sevens teaches you to live in those high-pressure moments, there’s no room to hide, every second counts and each decision can change the game"

"That environment sharpened my ability to make quick decisions, manage space effectively and maintain intensity over long periods"

"It also taught me resilience because in sevens you can be down and out in one minute but turn the game around the next. Those lessons have translated into 15s, especially at the World Cup, where the stakes are so high."

"It’s about keeping composure, adapting to what’s in front of you and the skill be it passing, tackling and quickly bouncing back up into the game"

"It was a mix of joy and gratitude. Personally, I thought back to all the years of sacrifice, challenges faced and the faith that kept me going when the road wasn’t easy"

"To finally see it pay off on a stage like the RWC felt like a testimony to God’s grace and our team’s resilience. For women’s rugby in South Africa, it was so much bigger than just us"

"I think it was a message that the Springbok Women belong at the highest level. It means that young girls can dream bigger and the country can start to see the true potential of women’s rugby."

"On the field, it’s about composure, showing younger players that you can handle pressure, stick to the system and still express yourself"

"Off the field, it’s about being approachable, sharing knowledge and making them feel supported in moments of doubt"

"You know they will test every part of your game. For us, the key was discipline and structure. We couldn’t get caught up in their tempo or play on emotion alone"

"Our physicality is always a strength, but it needed to be applied smartly with dominating collisions, slowing their ball and staying patient"

"At the same time, speed and fitness had to come into play, especially in transitions. If I had to choose one thing it was our discipline and structure. That gave us a foundation to compete, to stick to our plan and to trust each other in the big moments"

"I want girls to know their dreams are valid, no matter where they start. I was once a young girl with a dream too and it took years of work, setbacks and faith to get there."

"If you stay consistent and keep working even when no one is watching, opportunities will come. I want young girls to see us and know that it’s possible – whether it’s rugby, studies or something else entirely, you can break barriers"

"My personal goals are to keep growing as a player and leader and to continue representing South Africa in both sevens and fifteens."

"I also want to be part of building pathways for younger girls so that when they pick up a rugby ball, they already see a future in the sport."

"We respect the Springbok name deeply, but we also know that we’re writing our own story within it. We want to be known for our resilience, unity and courage"

"In terms of style we bring physicality, passion and flair that’s uniquely South African. We want people to look at us and see a team carving a legacy of heart, strength and pride in green and gold."

"I hope South Africa will keep growing the game at the grassroots level so that we see more opportunities and investment in our athletes. The talent and passion is there – it’s now about building a structure that gives every young girl a chance to reach her potential"

"I believe we’re moving in the right direction, and starting not to hold back against New Zealand."

"The knowledge that I can compete at this level was just such a boost and for me the biggest achievement of my life. Look, no prop scrums alone, so it is not about me, but it was great to force my opponent to concede penalties and for our forwards to enjoy dominance over a highly-rated French pack."

"And I want to assist in mauls, make tackles, and carry the ball. The nice thing about all of that is that I can do so with my team and when we play together, we get things done."

"I can an really look back at this day for a long time. Here I was, being part of the opening match of the World Cup and when the action began, I felt at home."

"But because of my body shape, people kept saying, ‘you need to play, you need to play’. I was 18. I just thought, ‘why not’. So I tried. And the rest is history."

"But I want to tell girls that it’s OK to look how you look. I am grateful for my strength. I use my strength to push for my country. Why would I not be proud of that?"

"If I don’t keep winning penalties then someone else will come and take my position. And if I lose my position, if I lose my contract, then my family won’t eat. I can’t let that happen"

"I’ll keep pushing hard. For my family and for South Africa. For all young girls who want to play rugby. Ya, I can say that I’ll always keep pushing"

"Some ugly perceptions about women and women’s rugby still exist in South Africa,To be honest, it’s a pain in the arse."

"When it happens I just smile and maybe just move on to something else. But it’s hard to hear. My parents stand behind me fully so I know that I have their support. So what other people think shouldn’t bother me. But it’s not nice to hear. I know that I’m not like a typical female. I’m built differently."

"It won’t happen overnight, I’m not sure we can change a whole culture. There will be lots of people who will never support us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. If we start winning and challenging the really good teams."

"It’s nice to be part of a professional group where you can just go out and have everything set up for you, but if I’m honest, there’s nothing that challenges you on game day.The biggest challenge comes in training. As an individual and as a team we’re not really tested on the weekend and that’s not good for us or for South African rugby. We need competition and the only way that can happen is if other teams invest like we have."

"I want to be one of the best players in the world, I want to play overseas, probably in England and the PWR where I can test myself against the best."

"I want to win awards and travel the world and be the best I can be. I want to be a role model and prove to people that South African women can play rugby at the highest level."

"I am glad that I am bringing hope to young women and young girls that anything is possible, and there’s no such thing as you are dreaming too big or dreaming too small. If you strive to get there one day, I just feel like anything is possible, so I am really glad that I could be a role model for the young girls and women."

"Give it a go, give it a chance! Don’t hesitate if you feel like you want to play rugby, and it’s something you enjoy doing, keep on doing it"

"I think women’s rugby is definitely growing in South Africa, and there will be light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the day, so keep on dreaming big."

"Go to the field, go play touchies in the street. It’s all the little things that matter in the day, if we don’t give up and keep on pushing. No one said it’s gonna be easy, but when you think about it, it’s not even that hard, if you are actually doing stuff with passion."

"It means a lot that I’m a role model to many young girls and women. I remember when I was young, I looked up to people, and I am glad I could now be someone that people could look up to."

"For me, in my own area, there are many things happening, like gangsterism, and the kids are looking up to the fact that they can become a gangster one day, and the wrong things"

"I literally feel like we are capable, as South African female rugby players. I don’t think there would be a country that could stop us from getting a Cup, but obviously, we must think of the small blocks towards it, and not just jump through the main thing. That’s an inspiration to bring the cup home."

"If ever, like, I get the opportunity to go to a World Cup again, that is something I would really want to do, just to be part of a group that would bring a cup home."

"I came here for game time and I came here to play against other internationalists regularly in high quality matches. With so many internationals in the PWR after the World Cup the standard is likely to have gone up and that is exciting and a challenge we are ready for."

"As an experience, you can’t beat that. I’m also excited to be able to take what I learn here back home into the national squad and impart my knowledge to help South African women’s rugby continue to grow. Giving back is always one of the reasons why I do what I do and why I play rugby."

"A lot of the girls have PWR Cup games under their belt and we’re just excited to set our standards and a platform and then work from there and see where we’re at as a squad. I am definitely excited for what’s to come and I am excited to be playing in this league."

"I think the biggest ‘work on’ for me is focusing on my attack. I think I focused a lot on defence over the last couple of years and I’ve grown so much confidence in that space, but now I want to be an all-round play"

"Being able to represent my country is a great honour, it’s one of those things that are really hard to describe but I know I want to do it to the best of my capabilities. I believe I’m not just representing my country but I’m representing the community that I come from, I’m representing my friends and my family, they celebrate me the most. They are what has made my journey even more meaningful"

"Playing the sport professionally always seemed like something very far from me considering that it was not professional for many years in my country. I have always been a hard worker, and somehow things aligned so that I could be where I am today"