Anacadia Minnaar and Insaaf Levy will join a settled Springbok Women squad in Stellenbosch on Wednesday, 14 October, when they assemble for their final two Tests of the year, against Ireland at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 24 October 2026 and Saturday, 31 October 2026.
The two Tests will conclude the 2026 WXV Global Series for the hosts, who just returned from Europe where they played Wales, Italy and Spain on consecutive weekends, and mark the first visit to South African shores by Ireland, the fifth-ranked team in the world.
Minnaar was a late withdrawal from the trip north, but she returns to the squad in place of Felicia Jacobs, while Levy has been added in place of the injured Ayanda Malinga as co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September stuck to the same group of players that finished the European tour with victories over Italy and Spain.
“We opted for continuity as we have good momentum from the last couple of matches on tour, hence the call to stay with the same group of players,” said Johannes-Haupt.
“Anacadia could unfortunately not travel to Europe, but we are happy to have her back, while we also want to bring Insaaf closer to the action and tap into her skill set. Ireland are not the fifth-ranked team in the world for nothing – they will really test us.”
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Minnaar was part of the squad all year and last played against the Black Ferns just over a month ago, while Levy played in two of the three Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Tests in Kenya in May before touring Brazil with the SA Women ‘A’ side in August.
The team will start their preparations on Thursday, 15 October and will move to Cape Town on Sunday, 18 October, where they will be based for the series.
“We are pleased on how the season progressed and want to finish it strong at home,” said Johannes-Haupt.
“Athlone Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years and it is a perfect setting for us to close out the season.”
Springbok Women Co-Coach, Laurian Johannes-Haupt
Two players, Free State Women centre Aisha Camara and DHL Western Province prop Anothando Katshwa, have been invited to train with the squad for the duration of the camp.
Ireland arrive fresh from two wins over Japan and a close defeat against the USA in the WXV Global Series, having finished third in the Women’s Six Nations earlier this season. Before their European tour, the Bok Women won the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, drew the two-Test series at home against the USA and lost a once-off clash against the Black Ferns of New Zealand.
“After a wobbly start against Wales, the Springbok Women really made a step up with good victories over Italy and Spain, and we are confident they will hit the ground running when they face Ireland in a few weeks’ time,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“It’s imperative for our women to play against better-ranked teams than themselves and the two games against Ireland provides them with that opportunity.”
SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer
“The Irish have a very strong women’s programme, and they will provide a stern test to the Bok Women, and along with the Black Ferns of New Zealand, will probably be their strongest opposition this year.
“The Bok Women showed with their victory over the USA in Johannesburg earlier this season that they can take on higher-ranked teams, and we wish them all the best for their final two Tests of a bumper 2026.”
The last and only time the Bok Women faced Ireland was more than 20 years ago, at the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Canada, where the Irish won 37-0.
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Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 15h00. Priced from R50 per person, or R150 for a package of four, tickets are sold per match and are only available from Ticketmaster.
Australia’s Jess Ling will referee both Tests, assisted by Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe) and Giana Viljoen (South Africa), with Matteo Liperini (Italy) as TMO and South Africa’s Quinton Immelman as Foul Play Review Officer.
The Springbok Women vs. Ireland 2026 WXV Global Series at the Athlone Stadium, Cape Town
Sat 24 Oct, 15h00: First Test: Springbok Women vs. Ireland
Sat 31 Oct, 15h00: Second Test: Springbok Women vs. Ireland
Springbok Women squad for Ireland Tests:
Forwards (18)
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 38 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 9 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 22 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Sizophila Solontsi (SA Rugby contracted) – 39 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 34 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 39 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 10 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 22 caps, 0 points
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 27 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 30 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Babalwa Latsha (captain; DHL Western Province) – 47 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 19 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 16 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 49 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 35 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 13 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 43 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
Micke Gunter (Leicester Tigers) – 20 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Backs (12)
Jakkie Cilliers (RC Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 29 caps, 180 points (12 tries, 48 conversions, 8 penalty goals)
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 12 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Patience Mokone (SA Rugby contracted) – 7 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (SA Rugby contracted) – 3 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 14 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Naima Hlatshwayo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 5 caps, 0 points
Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 33 caps, 90 points (9 tries, 21 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 19 caps, 45 points (1 try, 20 conversions)
Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 34 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion)
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 9 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Insaaf Levy (DHL Western Province) – 2 caps, 0 points
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Captain Babalwa Latsha leads a settled Springbok Women squad, joined by Anacadia Minnaar (Pictured) and Insaaf Levy, into two WXV Global Series Tests against fifth-ranked Ireland on their first visit to South Africa, closing a bumper 2026 season before home fans at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 24 October 2026 and Saturday, 31 October 2026. All Photos: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
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