women
international women
Anushka Groenewald first picked up a rugby ball four years ago, but in a whirlwind journey she carved out a place for herself in South Africa team. Last weekend she played for the first time in her hometown of Cape Town in the Springbok Women jersey.
The whore has had quite a boost in her career, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
She won her first international cap in 2025, but that almost never happened. In January 2023, she broke her ankle and was told she would never play rugby again. The 21-year-old says she experienced the “lowest point” of her life due to a serious injury three years ago.
“I started playing under-20s at club level and it just took off,” she says. “I was like ‘okay, I didn’t make Western Province, I didn’t make anything.’I literally felt like a failure.
“I knew I had to pick myself up because you’re the only person who can. There are people who are there for you, but if you don’t make that decision and really move forward, you’re not going to grow, learn or get better. Four months later I started playing (again).
“I think it was a really big mental thing. My parents always support me, but for them they didn’t want to see their child hurt or hurt. So for four months I was basically bedridden, I had to stay in bed. I wasn’t allowed to go out because if I got hurt again, it would be worse.”
“Having so many people talking, all those voices, it was too much at the time. I felt really low in my life, I think it was the lowest I’ve ever felt. The injury already makes you feel that way, and now there are so many voices and not being able to play rugby, which was my escape.”
“Having to come out of that mental battle was really hard and it took time. But I had to make the decision to block it all out and know that if it was God’s will, I would be able to play rugby again.”
Groenewald was introduced to rugby late as she played netball for 12 years. The transition to another sport was easy.
“I really wanted to make the Western Province Colours, it’s the next step in netball and I was just never good enough,” she says. “The dream was to make the first team in high school. The opportunity came and they said you can play netball for the first team or you can captain the first team in rugby.”
“When I touched the rugby ball, it was just natural. I didn’t have to try. I didn’t have to train so hard to feel like I was finally good enough.”
“It came so naturally so I decided to play rugby and I didn’t make a mistake in choosing it. It honestly happened by asking God what my purpose in life was and what my strength was in life. It came through the Lord and what he wanted from me and I took it with both hands.”
Groenewald now has 14 caps to her name, the latest coming in front of her family and friends for the first time in the Springbok Women’s 40-27 loss to Ireland in the WXV Global Series.
“It was crazy,” she says. “Obviously the nerves were there knowing that everyone was watching and everyone was physically there, but I just knew it and was able to take it all in and experience it in person (it was amazing). Afterwards I could see them and the smiles on their faces and give them kisses the whole time. It was so magical and unforgettable.”
Although playing in Cape Town was a great experience for Groenewald, the team did not win in front of a strong home crowd. This week at training, the Springboks women went all out to make their second leg against Ireland a different outcome.
“We had such an amazing few opportunities that (in our review) we were like, ‘we did this and this well,’” she adds. “But there were opportunities where we lacked. They took our mistakes and used them for their (gain). I think we tried to minimize the mistakes during the week.”
“Obviously it starts in practice. So if you don’t score dominant in practice, are you even going to score dominant on Saturday? So whatever we did this week, we were like ‘this is going to happen on the weekend.’
“So minimizing mistakes, going over what we’re good at and trying to do it even better. I think with what we did and how prepared we are this weekend, we’re definitely going to see a different game than ourselves. We’re supporting each other and we’re excited to see what we can do against them.”
Groenewald is in the first part of his journey with Boxing Women, but he has big ambitions for the next few years.
“I think the 2029 World Cup is definitely something I’m aiming to go to,” she adds. “There’s still three years left and I think it’s always going to be something I strive for and do.”
