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This past weekend saw a monumental Africa Cup win from South Africa’s national women’s rugby team, securing the team to play in the Rugby World Cup next year.

On Sunday, the Bokke women beat the Madagascan team in Antananarivo with a final score of 46-17. Halala!

Not only does this mean that the SA squad defended their Africa Cup title, but it also sends our women’s team to the 2025 Rugby World Cup, as well as helping the team qualify for the prestigious annual rugby union competition WXV 2, taking place in September this year.

The 2025 Rugby World Cup will take place in England, and us ruggah–lovin‘ Saffas are confident that the Bokke women will ensure yet another international victory for the Springbok fam.

Perhaps more importantly though, the Springbok women’s team is pushing for younger generations, especially girl children, to feel at home within the sport.

Considering the masculine history of rugby in our country, it’s exciting to hear role models like the Bokke women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi encouraging the joy of the game.

“We play to inspire the next girl or woman to pick up a rugby ball and I think this win and qualifying for the Rugby World Cup will mean so much to those who want to see the game grow,” Booi proudly stated. “We are on the big stage and belong there, so the next steps are important. We laid the foundation for the next phase and it is so exciting to be part of it.”

Sjoe, even as someone who has zero hand-eye coordination, I’m feeling the green and gold gees!

Our women’s champs were led to victory with the help of a tenacious team behind the scenes, including passionate Coach Louis Koen. According to Koen, it’s taken a village to raise a bok:

“Qualifying for the Rugby World Cup is a massive boost to all involved and I can only thank the stakeholders, players and management who walked this journey together. The game can only grow and improve from here.”

The actual Africa Cup final game against the Madagascan side was a battle of toughness, and even though Coach Koen was impressed with the bok’s performance, he gave kudos to the opposition for putting up an epic fight.

In addition to the high level of skill and passion brought to the field by both teams, the setting of Stade Makis in the country’s capital proved that women’s sport is alive and well. Koen commented on the vibrancy in the stands on the day and even suggested that we take a leaf out of the Madagasgan supporter’s playbook.

“We did concede tries that we will not normally do, but credit to Madagascar, who never stopped trying and pushing hard with the huge crowd behind them. We can certainly learn from these spectators how to support women’s rugby; they were really good today.”

Let’s show this amazing team of women that our blood truly does run green and gold and give them the same level of energy we brought for our Bokke boys last year.

With such talented sportspeople representing our country, there’s no excuse not to be bok bef*k!

[source:goodthingsguy&supersport]