Five years ago in 2019, aged 26, the Mastercard Golden Lions Women’s player Piwokuhle Nyanda made her international debut against Los Leonas in Nelson Mandela Bay, and followed it up with consecutive Tests against Scotland, looking set for a long career in the Bok midfield by the end of that season.
But sometimes life serves you lemons and Nyanda had to wait until 2023 before she could add to her three caps when Louis Koen named her in his squad to play in the inaugural WXV 2 tournament last October.
Come 2024 and the bubbly Nyanda is determined to make sure Koen continues to write down her name next to No 12 on the team sheet – as he has done in the last five Tests for the Bok Women.
This week in Spain, Nyanda could possibly earn her first Test start away from South Africa after eight Tests in Valladolid on Saturday.
“It is my first visit to Spain and if selected the first time I will play in a test match abroad, so it is super exciting times for me.”
Springbok Women’s Squad Member, Piwokuhle Nyanda
“The trip so far has been great, with the Scotland and Wales stops providing a good reflection on what to expect this weekend. Those teams are ahead of us on the world rankings, as is Spain, so the challenge and mission is to close that gap as soon as possible.”
Team goals aside, Nyanda has set her own objectives as well: “I want to stay in the team for as long as possible. I missed out on the previous Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, so I really want to be part of the group that completes the journey for the 2025 tournament to England next year.
“I want to – as coach Louis always says – make sure I stay in the same room where the team is. That will only happen if I deliver consistent performances that reward the trust the coaching staff have put in me.
“After this tour Madagascar awaits, where we can qualify for the Rugby World Cup and I want to be part of that as well. For now though, we should look at Spain and no further.”
In her last five outings, Nyanda impressed on defence and attack, something she attributes to hard work.
“Hard work pays off, that has always been something I believed in and live by on the rugby field,” she said. “It is another reason to be close to this team, they don’t shy away from hard work and that creates a good team environment.”
Nyanda, a graduate in Operations Management, is a keen student of the game as well and would love nothing more to see rugby grow in leaps and bounds amongst female players.
“Our team slogan is ‘every try to inspire a girl’ and that is a true reflection on what we hope to achieve on the field,” she said.
“It is about inspiring the next generation of players by showing them what is possible. To do that, we need to play rugby that attracts them to the game and these two forthcoming Test matches will be part of that journey.”
The test match against Spain will kick-off at 17h00 (SA time) on Saturday.
Springbok Women Training Squad
Olwethu Kasibe (EP Queens)
Hlomla Puzi (EP Queens)
Amahle Nyoba (EP Queens)
Mary Zulu (Hollywoodbets Sharks Women)
Tayla Kinsey (Hollywoodbets Sharks Women)
Sikholiwe Mdletshe (Free State Women)
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies)
Macaela Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames)
Veroeskha Grain (Sanlam Boland Dames)
Chuma Qawe (Sanlam Boland Dames)
Nompumelelo Mathe (Sanlam Boland Dames)
Nokubonga Siko (Sanlam Boland Dames)
Rumandi Potgieter (Bulls Daisies)
Jakkie Cilliers (Bulls Daisies)
Sanelisiwe Charlie (Bulls Daisies)
Micke Gunter (Bulls Daisies) (Withdrawn for Injury)
Vainah Ubisi (Bulls Daisies)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Bulls Daisies)
Anathi Qolo (Bulls Daisies)
Nkhumishe Malatse (Bulls Daisies)
Byrhandrѐ Dolf (Bulls Daisies)
Roseline Botes (DHL Western Province)
Asiphe Mayaba (DHL Western Province)
Asiza Mkiva (DHL Western Province)
Nolusindiso Booi (DHL Western Province)
Sinazo Mcatshulwa (DHL Western Province)
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province)
Alicia Willemse (DHL Western Province)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Mastercard Golden Lions Women)
Aliyah Tchogna-Njamen (Mastercard Golden Lions Women)
Piwokuhle Nyanda (Mastercard Golden Lions Women)
Samantha Els (Unaffiliated)
England-Based Professionals
Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women)
Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins Women)
Aseza Hele (Harlequins Women)
Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders)
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Piwokuhle Nyanda is putting in the hard yards to ensure that she continues to make the Springbok Women’s number 12 slot her own, her focus on defence and attack a key element of her game plan she intends to bring to bear against Spain this weekend. Photo: SA Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: Nyanda could earn her first Test start away from South Africa after eight Tests, against Spain in Valladolid this Saturday. Photo: SA Rugby
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