De Bruin names 22 World Cup veterans in Springbok Women squad to face USA Eagles

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has named a 30-player squad for a two-Test series against the USA Women’s Eagles, with 22 of those players having featured at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, where South Africa reached the quarter-finals before falling to six-time world champions New Zealand.

Both fixtures will form part of doubleheaders alongside the Springbok Men’s Nations Championship matches against England at Ellis Park on 4 July and Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on 11 July.

The remaining eight players in the squad either contributed to South Africa’s successful Rugby Africa Women’s Cup campaign or impressed during strong domestic seasons in the Pick n Pay Women’s Premier League.

De Bruin also confirmed that a new captain will be announced ahead of the first Test, following the departure of Nolusindiso Booi from the role.

“This squad has not played together since last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, but once in camp, it did not take long for us to find that synergy we had last year,” De Bruin said. “The USA played in the Pacific Four Series against New Zealand, Australia and Canada, so we expect them to have some momentum coming into this historic series in South Africa, but for the last two weeks our focus was on ourselves. I am pleased to say we concluded this camp positive about the outcomes.”

Several notable absentees were confirmed as injury-related omissions. Nadine Roos, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Lindelwa Gwala, Aseza Hele, Donelle Snyders, Naima Hlatshwayo, and Chumisa Qawe were all left out as they continue through return-to-play protocols.