women
international women
The Springbok women suffered a major injury outside their home WXV Global Series game against Ireland, with captain Babalwa Latsha ruled out of the two-match series.
The matches against Scott Bemand’s team will be played at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, and back-line forward Sizophila Solontsi has been appointed captain by coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel Septembar.
Latsha suffered an ankle injury during the 20-0 win over South Africa Spain in Seville at the beginning of October.
The prop was withdrawn from the squad at the end of the team’s training camp in Stellenbosch last week.
Solontsi already shared the captaincy duties during the WXV Global Series when she was co-captain South Africa along with scrum-half Unam Tose in their 41-29 win Italy Pordenone.
The 2024 Olympian will now take sole responsibility for the upcoming home games against Ireland.
South Africa will also be without Nombuyekez Mdliki, who has been ruled out of the home Test following a rib injury sustained against Spain.
The latest setbacks add to growing injury concerns among the Springbok women ahead of Ireland’s visit.
Ayanda Malinga was also ruled out of the games when the squad for the WXV Global Series home game was announced.
In response, Johannes-Haupt and September included Anacadia Minnaar and Insaf Levy in the team.
Minnaar narrowly missed out on South Africa’s European tour after being ruled out at the last minute, with Felicia Jacobs called up as her replacement.
Jacobs started in the Springbok Women’s 50-19 defeat Wales before coming off the bench in matches against Italy and Spain.
Levy took part in two African Women’s Rugby Cup matches in May before the tour Brazil with the South African Women ‘A’ two months ago.
South Africa Home WXV Global Series 2026 Fixtures
- Saturday 24 October South Africa v Ireland, 14:00 (GMT+1)
- Saturday 31 October South Africa v Ireland 11:00 (GMT+0)
