As we prepare our hearts for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup finals, good news in the land of the Springboks has already come forth. Our Women’s Sevens squad has earned their place at the Olympics, for the first time ever!
Global (25 October 2023) — While South Africa prepares our hearts for Saturday’s World Cup finals, good news has already poured in for another set of Boks! The Springbok Women’s Sevens team has booked their spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics—a result that comes after years of dreaming and battling it out.
The Springbok Women’s Sevens earned their well-deserved spot following their impeccable display at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Olympic Qualifier in Tunisia earlier this month. There, they beat their final opponent Kenya, a strong team that put up a serious fight with a final result of 12-7.
This is the first time the team will get their moment in the Olympic spotlight.
“It is huge for our system and it is huge for women’s rugby in the country overall,” said head coach Renfred Dazel per World Rugby.
“There will be more opportunities now for girls to come and play rugby, so winning [the Rugby Afrique] was immense for the women’s game. The future looks bright,” Dazel added.
This after the team was denied in previous Olympic qualifying years; 2016 and 2020.
Co-captain Rights Mkhari adds with joy:
“We are emotional and proud right now. No one gave up, we kept pushing and playing for the teammate next to you. In the end, that was the difference and we scored when it mattered.”
Meanwhile in other thrilling news for Women’s rugby worldwide, a new international competition is in the works, the WXV tournament, a three-part tournament of which one stretch will be hosted by South Africa in the Western Cape.
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