When you hear the name Mandisa Williams, women’s rugby instantly comes to mind. The former player and Springbok Women’s captain has cemented her name in the sport’s history books and although she no longer runs onto the field, she has no plans on resting on her laurels.
Williams is known for breaking the glass ceiling and her latest achievement proves she is not done shattering boundaries. She shared with gsport she will be the forwards assistant coach to the senior boys team at the Swallows Rugby Club. The club is seen as an institution of rugby in the area as it is over 100 years old.
“They offered me a coaching position since I just did my Level 3 and needed a team to be attached to, and said they said they do not mind a female coach, if it’s me. Any assistance I would need, they would provide it when I need it,” said Williams. “I mean that’s crazy …! This is going to be the first-ever men’s team coached by a woman, in the history of the sport.”
The former Bulls Daises assistant coach has had a front-row seat when it comes to watching the evolution of women’s rugby, having started her playing career in 1999 at the age of 16 playing for the Border Bulldogs provincial side, before going on to make her international debut in 2004.
Williams’ exploits on the field and her influence in various roles have seen her grow into a true leader of women’s rugby.Williams does not allow herself to get caught up in titles, saying a good leader is one who walks the talk.
She was then part of the Bok women’s side to participate in its first Rugby World Cup in 2006, and for this feat, she was awarded the SA Rugby’s Women’s Player of the Year Award.
Her exploits on the field and her influence in various roles have seen her grow into a true leader of women’s rugby. Williams shared some time with gsport to chat about just what she feels makes leader.
When asked about being seen as a leader in women’s rugby, Williams had this very humble response: “I have always been casual around the titles, since my playing days.”
“Those can easily steer you off your path. It’s all a feel-good period because it’s like rebirth but my focus is to use this time and take one more leap into the unknown world. Discover new skills and use them to elevate my knowledge.”
Former Springbok Women’s Rugby Captain, Mandisa Williams
It’s safe to say Williams is a woman of few words who would rather do her talking on the field with her players. So what does she think makes a good leader?
“A good leader walks the talk. Good to great leaders are mostly people who are centred, resilient, and results-driven.”
Learning lessons is part of growing as a leader in any industry and she says there are a few key teachings she carries with her today.
“I’ve only been just a women’s Rugby leader but what I would say is: ‘Stay true to yourself, but mostly, cover your back.’ There are always people turning the tide or switching your lights off, but keep in your lane and commit to the job at hand saves you in advance.”
She says she had a few role models who she has looked up to over the years and among them are Dorothy Tsotsobe and her father.
“I grew under Dorothy Tsotsobe in Women’s Rugby and EC Rugby,” before adding: “It is Kaunda Ntunja the founder of isiXhosa commentary and Phaka on SuperSport Rugby. It is also our current minister of sport Gayton McKenzie, and my father Million Williams.”
“Dorothy Tsotsobe has been the pioneer of Women’s Rugby since its inception in 1998. We grew under her and Mr Mahluhi Puzi’s leadership. She was our voice of reason, fighting gender-stereotypical people. She gained valuable momentum for us and she took a positive stance to continue the fight for recognition.”
Williams was inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame in 2024 and said this after she was awarded the honour in September last year.
“Young women are fighting social ills. When we speak rugby, it’s a male-dominated sport and inclusion is sometimes not that much. We just need to fine-tune the behaviour of administrators in rugby. For myself, it’s huge, it’s given me goosebumps. It’s a huge accolade, but I’m mindful of the work I still want to do. As the captain of my ship, I must sail.”
“This is a huge occasion and it is so unreal. I always ask myself why me, because you don’t believe that you’ve done so much to gain such recognition, but if it’s ammunition for me to continue, then I receive it with warm hands. I promise to continue with what I’ve been doing, changing the narrative, because young women need us. We’ve been there, we’ve done it.”
Fast forward to 2025 and the fact that she is a Hall of Famer is still sinking in for the women’s rugby stalwart. “I’m still trying to figure things out, like how this became Mandisa’s accolade in 2024.”
“I’m still saying it’s for legends of the game, maybe people over 60 years old, those who have mastered their roles in sport and community-building spaces. I am celebrated, yes, and celebrating something between the lines too. I’m in a good space and it brightens my day every time I think about it.”
Main Photo Caption: 2024 gsport Hall of Fame inductee Mandisa Williams continues to break new ground, most recently with the former Springbok Women’s captain’s appointment as the first-ever woman assistant coach of a men’s team at the century-old Swallows Rugby Club. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Williams’ exploits on the field and her influence in various roles have seen her grow into a true leader of women’s rugby.
Photo 3 Caption: Williams does not allow herself to get caught up in titles, saying a good leader is one who walks the talk.
‘As the Captain of My Ship, I Must Sail’ – Mandisa Williams Makes Moves
When you hear the name Mandisa Williams, women’s rugby instantly comes to mind. The former player and Springbok Women’s captain has cemented her name in the sport’s history books and although she no longer runs onto the field, she has no plans on resting on her laurels.
Williams is known for breaking the glass ceiling and her latest achievement proves she is not done shattering boundaries. She shared with gsport she will be the forwards assistant coach to the senior boys team at the Swallows Rugby Club. The club is seen as an institution of rugby in the area as it is over 100 years old.
“They offered me a coaching position since I just did my Level 3 and needed a team to be attached to, and said they said they do not mind a female coach, if it’s me. Any assistance I would need, they would provide it when I need it,” said Williams. “I mean that’s crazy …! This is going to be the first-ever men’s team coached by a woman, in the history of the sport.”
The former Bulls Daises assistant coach has had a front-row seat when it comes to watching the evolution of women’s rugby, having started her playing career in 1999 at the age of 16 playing for the Border Bulldogs provincial side, before going on to make her international debut in 2004.
She was then part of the Bok women’s side to participate in its first Rugby World Cup in 2006, and for this feat, she was awarded the SA Rugby’s Women’s Player of the Year Award.
Her exploits on the field and her influence in various roles have seen her grow into a true leader of women’s rugby. Williams shared some time with gsport to chat about just what she feels makes leader.
When asked about being seen as a leader in women’s rugby, Williams had this very humble response: “I have always been casual around the titles, since my playing days.”
It’s safe to say Williams is a woman of few words who would rather do her talking on the field with her players. So what does she think makes a good leader?
“A good leader walks the talk. Good to great leaders are mostly people who are centred, resilient, and results-driven.”
Learning lessons is part of growing as a leader in any industry and she says there are a few key teachings she carries with her today.
She says she had a few role models who she has looked up to over the years and among them are Dorothy Tsotsobe and her father.
“I grew under Dorothy Tsotsobe in Women’s Rugby and EC Rugby,” before adding: “It is Kaunda Ntunja the founder of isiXhosa commentary and Phaka on SuperSport Rugby. It is also our current minister of sport Gayton McKenzie, and my father Million Williams.”
“Dorothy Tsotsobe has been the pioneer of Women’s Rugby since its inception in 1998. We grew under her and Mr Mahluhi Puzi’s leadership. She was our voice of reason, fighting gender-stereotypical people. She gained valuable momentum for us and she took a positive stance to continue the fight for recognition.”
Williams was inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame in 2024 and said this after she was awarded the honour in September last year.
“Young women are fighting social ills. When we speak rugby, it’s a male-dominated sport and inclusion is sometimes not that much. We just need to fine-tune the behaviour of administrators in rugby. For myself, it’s huge, it’s given me goosebumps. It’s a huge accolade, but I’m mindful of the work I still want to do. As the captain of my ship, I must sail.”
Fast forward to 2025 and the fact that she is a Hall of Famer is still sinking in for the women’s rugby stalwart. “I’m still trying to figure things out, like how this became Mandisa’s accolade in 2024.”
“I’m still saying it’s for legends of the game, maybe people over 60 years old, those who have mastered their roles in sport and community-building spaces. I am celebrated, yes, and celebrating something between the lines too. I’m in a good space and it brightens my day every time I think about it.”
Main Photo Caption: 2024 gsport Hall of Fame inductee Mandisa Williams continues to break new ground, most recently with the former Springbok Women’s captain’s appointment as the first-ever woman assistant coach of a men’s team at the century-old Swallows Rugby Club. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Williams’ exploits on the field and her influence in various roles have seen her grow into a true leader of women’s rugby.
Photo 3 Caption: Williams does not allow herself to get caught up in titles, saying a good leader is one who walks the talk.
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Alicia Pillay
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