Mary Zulu will captain the first South African Women ‘A’ squad when they travel to South America for two matches against Brazil ‘A’ in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday, 24 August and Saturday, 29 August 2026.
The squad, the first of its kind, departs South Africa on Thursday, 20 August 2026, with an exciting mix of experienced and up-and-coming players making the inaugural trip as part of SA Rugby’s drive to grow the experience and depth of the national women’s team.
Zulu, a member of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad, is one of eight capped Springbok Women named for the tour, with the remaining squad members drawn mostly from the 2026 Junior Springbok Women who played in the recent series against their age-group counterparts from the USA. The average age of the squad is just under 22 years.
SA Rugby’s General Manager of High Performance, Dave Wessels, said: “The establishment of an SA Women’s ‘A’ side and the forthcoming trip to Brazil is another big step forward for women’s rugby in South Africa, as it strengthens our talent pathways and builds greater depth at international level.
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“This tour also opens an exciting new frontier with our friends in Brazil. We are very grateful to them for everything they have done to make this tour a reality. It gives our players valuable exposure and expands the reach and ambition of our women’s game.”
Hooker Luchell Hanekom will also provide Women’s Rugby World Cup experience as she returns from an injury that kept her out for the early part of the season.
Props Anusckha Ekron and Sino Bhengu, locks Abigail Smit and Zethu Gcaza, scrumhalf Insaaf Levy and wing Shaunique Alexander were all involved in the Springbok Women’s successful Rugby Africa Women’s Cup campaign earlier this year.
The recent FNB Varsity Cup tournament also produced several members of the Junior Springbok Women group, as well as Courtney Hickson, a utility player from Maties who can play flanker or centre.
Isabella Nel, a former hockey player, has been selected as an outside back. She played provincial schools’ hockey until 2025 and was introduced to rugby this year through an SA Rugby drive to recruit high performance athletes from other sporting codes.
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Nel is the first cross-code athlete selected from the programme run by the High Performance department and has been training with the Women’s Academy squad and the Junior Springbok Women in recent months.
“We have some amazing female athletes in South Africa and players such as Danelle Lochner, Zintle Mpupha and Kayla Swarts, to name but a few, have already made the transition into rugby,” said Wessels.
“Growing the women’s game is an important driver for us and we believe we can boost our programmes with female players from other codes. We’ve already held a camp with some of them and the talent is there, we just have to nurture it. It’s great to see Isabella make the squad and we’re excited to see what she can do.”
SA Women ‘A’ Squad
Forwards
Anusckha Ekron* (DHL Western Province)
Iviwe Jonas (DHL Western Province)
Luchell Hanekom* (DHL Western Province)
Jada Davids (DHL Western Province)
Anothando Khatshwa (DHL Western Province)
Abigail Smit* (DHL Western Province)
Kaylee Daniels (DHL Western Province)
Courtney Hickson (DHL Western Province)
Yonelisa Plaatjie (DHL Western Province)
Karabo Lebotsa (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Sino Bhengu* (Sharks Women)
Avela Gwala (Sharks Women)
Vanessa Gabadi (Limpopo Blue Bulls)
Zethu Gcaza* (Border Ladies)
Emihle Mayitshe (Border Ladies)
Yonda Nokwe (EP Queens)
Backs
Insaaf Levy* (DHL Western Province)
Anitha Fazi (DHL Western Province)
Mary Zulu* (captain, Sharks Women)
Lithalethu Nombakuse (EP Queens)
Isabella Nel (unattached)
Lilitha Vakalisa (Border Ladies)
Thobile Msizazwe (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Camelitha Malone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Shaunique Alexander* (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)
Hayley Hardneck (Sanlam Boland Dames)
* Capped Springbok Women marked with an asterisk
Travelling Management
Bafana Nhleko (Head Coach)
Nandipa Manjezi (Team Manager)
Bongiwe Nhleko (Assistant Coach)
Obakeng Molopyane (Athletic Performance Coach)
Dr Lizanne Pieterse (Team Doctor)
Reagan Cele (Physiotherapist)
The Brazil ‘A’ vs. SA Women ‘A’ Tour from 24 to 29 August 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mon 24 Aug (Kick-off TBC): Brazil ‘A’ vs. SA Women ‘A’
Sat 29 Aug (Kick-off TBC): Brazil ‘A’ vs. SA Women ‘A’
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Mary Zulu, one of eight capped Springbok Women, will captain the 26-player inaugural SA Women ‘A’ squad built largely around the 2026 Junior Springbok Women, in two matches against Brazil ‘A’ in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday, 24 August and Saturday, 29 August 2026. Photo: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
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