The Springbok Women celebrate their record-extending triumph in the Rugby Africa Women's Cup final in Nairobi last week Sunday.
The Springbok Women's successful Rugby Africa Cup campaign in Kenya delivered more than a fifth consecutive continental title for assistant coach Franzel September. It also provided valuable evidence that the team's evolution is gathering pace ahead of a demanding international season and the longer-term goal of becoming a genuine force at the 2029 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa retained their crown in Nairobi with a largely experimental squad, giving a new generation of players an opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage. While the results were convincing, September believes the tournament's greatest value lay in the lessons it offered against increasingly competitive African opposition.
"We wanted to give more ladies exposure and see how we can groom the next best players before the next World Cup cycle," September said of a tournamnet that featured six debutants. "Provincial rugby is one thing, but international rugby is a different challenge altogether."
Champions of Africa, for a fifth time in a row 🏆#BokWomen | #BackHer pic.twitter.com/tcxEmzHVgk
