A Confident Springbok Women’s Sevens Prepared for the HSBC SVNS World Champs in Spain
The Springbok Women’s Sevens arrive in Valladolid with renewed determination and a point to prove, with captain Zintle Mpupha leading the squad into Pool B action at the HSBC SVNS World Championship at Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid, Spain, on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Currently placed 12th in the standings following a difficult opening tournament in Hong Kong, Mpupha is adamant that a stronger performance is within reach, with the squad arriving in Spain significantly better prepared than they were for their World Championship debut.
Apart from a pool victory over Great Britain in Hong Kong, the Springbok Women’s Sevens struggled to find their form, with a lack of preparation time and game time taking its toll on a squad already depleted by five injury-related withdrawals in the weeks leading into the tournament.
“It was tough as we had to blood some youngsters and players like me and Eloise Webb were playing in the fifteens code,” said Mpupha.
“This time around though, we are much better prepared, and we will showcase that on the field.”
Springbok Women’s Sevens Captain, Zintle Mpupha
“We had good time to prepare back home and got stuck into our way of play and game plan and I think we are in a much better position to execute what coach Cecil Afrika is expecting from the squad.
“The victory over GB in Hong Kong meant a lot as they were a core team on the HSBC SVNS Series this year and it showed that we can deliver wins over those teams. That is something we took to heart in preparing for this one, where we contest in a tough pool again.”
The squad has had to contend with further misfortune after arriving in Spain, with Shanidiné Bezuidenhout falling ill and requiring hospital treatment. Lerato Makua will also miss the opening two matches of the tournament, against USA and Australia, due to a suspension incurred in Hong Kong.
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Mpupha, however, views the situation with a positive outlook. “Almost 80 percent of our squad have been to Spain before, either with the fifteens or playing sevens, and we like it here.”
“The weather is good and we prefer it hot, like we will encounter this weekend. The crowd is also appreciative of the women’s game, so we will feed off that support as well,” she said.
South Africa will face USA, Australia and Fiji in Pool B, carrying the confidence of having beaten both USA and Fiji in their most recent encounters with each side, though Australia remain a side they are yet to defeat in nine meetings.
“It is a tough pool, as they all played on the circuit, but we give ourselves a chance.”
“Often, it is just the bounce of a rugby ball that determines a result and we will come close I believe. We were boosted with Vianca Boer and Patience Mokone who are back from their injuries, and as they played in a lot of the tournaments we had leading up to this one, they slotted in easily. And with the extra weeks to prepare, we feel positive about the weekend.”
The Springbok Women’s Sevens Pool B Fixtures at the HSBC SVNS World Championship, Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid, Spain
Friday, 29 May 2026
10h22: USA vs. Springbok Women’s Sevens at Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid
14h29: Australia vs. Springbok Women’s Sevens at Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid
Saturday, 30 May 2026
10h00: Fiji vs. Springbok Women’s Sevens at Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid
(All match times are CAT)
Head-to-Head Records
Australia: Played 9, Won 0. Average score 3-35. Last match: Hong Kong 2026, Lost 0-33
USA: Played 11, Won 3. Average score 9-22. Last match: Singapore 2025, Won 5-0.
Fiji: Played 9, Won 2, Drawn 1. Average score 12-26. Last match: Hong Kong 2024, Won 24-7
Springbok Women’s Sevens Squad for Valladolid
3. Patience Mokone, uncapped
4. Zintle Mpupha (captain), 13 tournaments, 65 points (13 tries)
7. Maria Tshiremba, 7 tournaments, 70 points (14 tries)
10. Byrhandré Dolf, 4 tournaments, 8 points (4 conversions)
15. Vianca Boer, uncapped
16. Shiniqwa Lamprecht, 9 tournaments, 0 points
20. Catha Jacobs, 2 tournaments, 0 points
21. Jané Mulder, 1 tournament, 0 points
22. Owami Mohuli, 1 tournament, 0 points
23. Ayanda Malinga, 9 tournaments, 70 points (14 tries)
26. Lerato Makua, 2 tournaments, 5 points (one try)
27. Maceala Samboya, 1 tournament, 0 points
30. Eloise Webb, 10 tournaments, 7 points (1 try, 1 conversion)
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Pictured with her equals at the Captain’s Call shoot, Springbok Women’s Sevens captain Zintle Mpupha leads a determined and better-prepared squad into Pool B action at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Valladolid, Spain from 29 to 30 May 2026. Photo: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
Crédito: Link de origem