Springbok Women’s Lock Nompumelelo Mathe reflects on securing their spot in next year’s World Cup.
South Africa (25 July 2024) – After clinching their third Rugby Africa Women’s Cup trophy, Springbok Women’s Lock Nompumelelo Mathe reflects on the tournament that secured their spot in next year’s World Cup. She also shares her personal journey and view on female rugby development in South Africa.
Fresh off a momentous win against Madagascar in May, the South African Springbok women’s rugby team achieved a significant milestone by clinching their third Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title. The 46-17 victory marked a remarkable accomplishment for the team and showcased their dedication, skill, and strategic prowess on the field.
Competing against a formidable opponent, Madagascar, on home turf at the Stade Makis in Antananarivo, the Springbok Women demonstrated exceptional teamwork and resilience, ultimately emerging victorious, cementing their spot at the WXV 2 later this year, and qualifying for the World Cup next year, hosted by England.
SportsBoom.com caught up with Springbok Women’s Lock Nompumelelo Mathe to reflect on the tournament and find out more about the reality of being a female rugby player in South Africa.
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Reflection on Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Win
The Springbok Women hold the record for the most Africa Cup titles with three wins over a span of five years. The team doubled as hosts and victors, winning the inaugural tournament in 2019 with a 39-0 triumph over Kenya and their second cup victory in 2023 with a 79-8 win over hosts Madagascar.
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Despite having a phenomenal track record at the Africa Women’s Cup, Mathe admitted that the journey through this year’s campaign was anything but a breeze.
“It was a good experience, and it was overwhelming, but it was something that we were looking forward to,” she told SportsBoom.com.
She mentioned that the Madagascan team stood out to her during the tournament, demonstrating their exceptional performance and competitiveness.
“Last year it was definitely Kenya, but this year Madagascar gave us a tough time, but we managed to pull through, we did our best, and we managed to win the Africa Cup.”
Outlook Towards WXV 2 Tournament
She stated that she looks forward to the second edition and division of the WXV tournament, which will take place in South Africa this September. She reveals that although the team has not reconvened since the Africa Women’s Cup, she has been preparing herself for when the time to begin training for the tournament commences. The ladies do look to improve their performance this year after placing third in the first edition in 2023.
The Road to The Rugby World Cup 2025
In terms of the World Cup in 2025, Mathe mentioned that with the uncertain nature of team call-ups, what she can do as a player is work on herself mentally, emotionally, and physically.
“I still need to make sure I stay on top of my game,” she explained. “I still need to stay on top of my rehab, prehab, and make sure that I go to training every day.”
Her Personal Rugby Journey
The Durban native is a product of successful and intentional rugby development for young girls at a grassroots level. She opened up about how she got her start in the sport, a journey that began all the way in high school. She attended Ohlange High School in Inanda township and was inspired by her sister to play. Female rugby development nationally is still a far cry from that of their male counterparts, and she believes that young girls deserve so much more support than they receive.
As a female rugby player breaking barriers in what’s still a male-dominated sport, she urges young girls to know exactly what they want out of life and go for it relentlessly.
“I’ve faced so many challenges in my rugby journey. I was told that I’m not good enough and that my body isn’t that of a rugby player, but I didn’t let all that get to me.
“So, do what you want,” she advises. “You don’t need to make other people happy. Make yourself happy first.”
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