Springbok Women name WXV squad with 2029 World Cup build in mind as Mpupha ruled out

South Africa’s Springbok Women have named their squad for the European leg of the 2026 WXV Global Series, with co-coaches Franzel September and Laurian Johannes-Haupt framing the selection around a deliberate pathway to the 2029 Rugby World Cup.

Babalwa Latsha will captain the side as they prepare to face Wales, Italy and Spain on tour before returning to Cape Town for back-to-back Tests against Ireland. The announcement comes off the back of a productive 2026 for the Springbok Women, who have won six of their eight matches this calendar year — including retaining the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and winning two-Test series against the USA and Fiji — before a 52-20 defeat to the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium last weekend.

One notable absentee is wing Zintle Mpupha, who sustained an ankle injury in Soweto during that Black Ferns fixture. Junior Springbok Women centre Naima Hlatshwayo, 20, has been called up as her Bulls Daisies teammate’s replacement. Hlatshwayo was part of the squad in Kenya and featured in the USA series squad before injury cut short her involvement.

“We have been building towards this tour for a while now, first with the introduction of new players at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, then the USA incoming Tests, the tour to Fiji, and last weekend’s match against the Black Ferns,” September said.

“The core of our squad has more than 20 caps, which reflects on our wider plan to build experience towards the next World Cup in 2029, while those with 10 caps or fewer point to our plans to bring in players that have been knocking on the door.”

The squad blends experience with emerging talent. Yonela Ngxingolo leads the caps count among the forwards with 47, while Aphiwe Ngwevu and Libbie Janse van Rensburg bring significant experience in the backs. Jakkie Cilliers, who plays her club rugby with Toulon Provence Méditerranée in France, is among the most prolific point-scorers in the group with 157 career points from 26 caps.

The European tour represents the latest step in what the coaching staff describe as a structured, multi-phase programme, with each series used to expose new players to Test rugby while maintaining a competitive core ahead of the World Cup cycle.