USA Women stun South Africa 26-19 as De Bruin names 49-player squad for next phase

The USA Women’s Eagles defeated the Springbok Women 26-19 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, levelling the two-match series after South Africa had won comfortably in Johannesburg the week before. A combination of power and individual brilliance proved too much for the hosts in the second Test.

Hope Rogers and Telesi Uhatafe each scored braces for the Eagles, with Bella Vogel adding three conversions to seal the result. South Africa’s points came through tries from Alichia Arries, Micke Gunter, and Ayanda Malinga, but it was not enough to hold off a determined USA side.

The defeat ends a busy domestic window for South Africa, who had earlier in the year retained their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya before hosting the USA for this two-match series.

In the wake of the series, head coach Swys de Bruin has named a 49-player squad to begin the next phase of the Springbok Women’s preparations for their remaining Tests in 2026. The group includes players from outside the core squad that featured in Kenya and against the USA.

“The next phase of our preparation starts now, and we have extended invitations to some players outside of the group that did so well in Kenya and against the USA,” De Bruin said.

“The players who did duty against the USA will have a short break, before all the invited players will start to reconvene in Stellenbosch the following week in various groups based on individual development needs.”

South Africa’s next confirmed fixture is scheduled for the start of September, when the Springbok Women face the Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in Soweto as part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.