‘I Want to Train Now to Win the Next World Cup’ – Springbok Women Points Machine Byrhandré Dolf

Playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England was not something Byrhandré Dolf thought would be in her future, but that achievement has now become her biggest career triumph to date. The speedy utility back has quickly become a fan favourite, thanks to her and her Springbok Women teammates’ historic Women’s Rugby World Cup performance.

Dolf was South Africa’s top points scorer, racking up 27 points. She also covered the most metres in four matches played in a tournament. Her twelve conversions and a penalty goal pushed Dolf past Zandile Nojoko’s record of 26 points scored at Rugby World Cups. However, where Dolf achieved this in four matches at one tournament, it took Nojoko 15 matches across three tournaments.

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The Bulls Daisies played enjoyed time with loved ones back in the Eastern Cape where she shared some of her precious time to chat to gsport, and reflected on the emotional experience of being welcomed home by her old school and community, how the team plans to build on their exceptional World Cup, and paid special homage to coach Swys de Bruin.

Byrhandrè, thank you so much for chatting with us today. It’s been a few days since you returned from the World Cup. How amazing was it to be welcomed home after your successful tournament?

When I was waiting for my bags, I saw what looked like my old school’s uniform, with people shouting my name. It was so touching when I walked out and everyone started clapping and welcoming me home. I’d never realised how special coming home could feel until then. 

My school welcomed me, Aseze, and Charlie at the airport, and we were all excited before seeing our families. When I arrived on Pelican Street, everyone was waiting outside for me, which was amazing. They made me smile. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I soaked it all in.

You were one of the standout players in the World Cup. How are you now hoping to build on this performance to improve your overall game? 

I am glad that what I brought to the team was helpful and got us the results we achieved. I am thankful to have been selected as the kicker for the tournament, especially since it was my first time kicking for the national team. I am glad I did my best and stayed calm, not letting nerves affect my performance. Being composed helped me get the best results. I want to stay consistent and acknowledge this great tournament. It’s not the end; I plan to build on this and use the experience to improve my game. It was a big learning curve, and I look forward to seeing my progress in the coming games.

The team was amazing at the tournament, but what moment stood out for you as the most special?

I think the most special game was against Italy. I remember going into that game, training sessions, and meetings, everything the coaches are like, guys like, this is not just a game, this is the most important game: the game that we were planning months for!

We can’t throw it out the window. We had to be at our best game, and we did that as a team. We said let’s be united, and let’s take this, and then we did it. I am super proud of what we did in those games and qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time. It was really special, it’s one for the books.

Coach Swys de Bruin spoke about how this World Cup performance has ‘Awoken a giant’. Do the players feel the same way?

I agree with Coach Swys that a giant has awoken. People can now see that with the support and sponsorships we need, and with that extra push, we can do more and give more to the game and that’s going to get others on board. You’ll get more out of the girls, and there are many more potential players out here. 

We’ve shown them it’s not impossible anything is possible. I hope what we did at the World Cup inspires others and shows them it’s something they’d want to join. I believe the girls will now pull through, and we’re raising the bar when it comes to standards. If these are the standards we’re setting, the team will go beyond, and I look forward to seeing that happen.

Tell us about the kind of Coach Swys is, and how he has positively impacted the team?

He is such an amazing person in general. Like, besides being a coach, I love the fact that it is never tense when he’s around. When he’s in the meeting room, we know that he’s going to crack a joke either way. Sometimes meetings would be so tense, and we would be worried, especially when it comes to team selections, and we wouldn’t even want to smile at each other. 

Then he will just break the ice and laugh and joke around, but when it comes to important stuff, he gets the message across. Then we would know, like, Okay, this is the line back to being serious now, but I just think that vibe of coach, Swys really puts the girls at ease, like we were never worried, or in moments if we were worried, he would just make it better for us and joke around. That was really cool to have a coach like that around at the World Cup.

How is the team hoping to build on this momentum as you look to become the powerhouses of women’s rugby in the future?

For us as a team to build on this momentum is that we should actually spend more time together as a team, because most of the time we get together at our own provinces, and are not training the same, we’re not putting in the same amount of work. So when we are in camp, we know that everyone is going to return together. Everyone is following the same program, so no one is being left behind. So I just think the more we spend time together, the better we will become. So yeah, if we could do that in the upcoming years, I think that will be, it will be like, big, like, improvement in the game and for us as players.

Growing up and looking at where you are now, did you ever think you would be enjoying such success in your career?

I never thought that I would enjoy life to the fullest. I never thought that I would be at the Rugby World Cup in England. That was never part of my dreams. I wanted to join the army because I was never a girl for books. I would just study the most important part, just to pass. 

So I was like, ‘What am I going to do after school?’ And then I got distracted and thought I would try and join the Army or maybe the Navy, but studying was never part of my future plans. 

Then I got the right opportunity to play sports, and then I was doing well, and now I am a Springbok woman just representing the country on the highest level of sport, and I’m literally so grateful for that. I am so grateful to everyone who has been a part of me and who has followed this journey, and taken this career seriously.

What are your career aspirations?

I don’t want to sound like I am being delusional, but now that I feel what it is to be there, what’s the environment like, what’s the game intensity, and all that? 

“I want to train now to win the next World Cup.”

I literally feel like we are capable, as South African female rugby players. I don’t think there would be a country that could stop us from getting a Cup, but obviously, we must think of the small blocks towards it, and not just jump through the main thing. That’s an inspiration to bring the cup home. If ever, like, I get the opportunity to go to a World Cup again, that is something I would really want to do, just to be part of a group that would bring a cup home.

What does it mean to you that you are a role model to so many young girls and women?

It means a lot that I’m a role model to many young girls and women. I remember when I was young, I looked up to people, and I am glad I could now be someone that people could look up to. For me, in my own area, there are many things happening, like gangsterism, and the kids are looking up to the fact that they can become a gangster one day, and the wrong things. 

I am glad that I am bringing hope to young women and young girls that anything is possible, and there’s no such thing as you are dreaming too big or dreaming too small. If you strive to get there one day, I just feel like anything is possible, so I am really glad that I could be a role model for the young girls and women.

Who are the female sportswomen you look up to?

I started watching Zenay Jordaan on YouTube when I was young, and she is still someone I look up to. She’s now coaching me at the Bulls Daisies, and I had a chance to play with her at Eastern Province in 2019 when I was 18 years old or 19 years old, and she could guide me. 

It was really amazing to play with someone that you’re looking up to, and that she is in my midst at the provincial level. So she is really an inspiration for me, and how she’s giving back to the sport that gave us so much, and it’s really inspiring.

What is your message to the young girls who are aspiring to become rugby players?

Give it a go, give it a chance! Don’t hesitate if you feel like you want to play rugby, and it’s something you enjoy doing, keep on doing it. I think women’s rugby is definitely growing in South Africa, and there will be light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the day, so keep on dreaming big. 

Go to the field, go play touchies in the street. It’s all the little things that matter in the day, if we don’t give up and keep on pushing. No one said it’s gonna be easy, but when you think about it, it’s not even that hard, if you are actually doing stuff with passion.

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Main Photo Caption: Byrhandré Dolf has turned into a fan favourite after the speedy utility back lit up the Women’s Rugby World Cup when the Springbok Women’s most prolific points scorer applied her sublime balls skill to gain metres on the field and scoreboard pressure in their opponent’s minds. All Photos: Supplied

Photo 2 Caption: If I ever get the opportunity to go to a World Cup again, that is something I would really want to do, just to be part of a group that would bring a Cup home.

Photo 3 Caption: I saw what looked like my old school’s uniform, people shouting my name. It was so touching, everyone started clapping and welcoming me home.

Photo 4 Caption: I am glad that I am bringing hope to young women and young girls, and there’s no such thing as you are dreaming too big or dreaming too small.

Photo 5 Caption: Give it a go, give it a chance! Don’t hesitate if you feel like you want to play rugby, and it’s something you enjoy doing, keep on doing it.