With less than 100 days to go until the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in England, excitement is building in the Springbok Women’s camp as they continue their preparations in Stellenbosch.
Veteran prop and national team leader Babalwa Latsha has expressed confidence and optimism as the squad sharpens its focus ahead of the global showpiece in August.
Solid Foundations After European Tour
The Springbok Women recently returned from a challenging European tour where they faced an England XV, a France Select side, and Spain. The tour was seen as a critical step in building squad depth and exposing newer players to top-tier international competition.
“The European tour was great as it gave us the opportunity to assess our depth and let the new crop of players experience international rugby,” Latsha told SportsBoom.co.za.
“We ticked quite a few boxes on tour, and now we’re building from that momentum.”
Growing the Depth Chart
The current training camp features several new faces, including standout performers from local franchises and the national Sevens (Blitzbok Women) team.
The inclusion of players like Anuschka Groenewald from the Under-20 setup speaks to the progress made in South Africa’s women’s rugby development pipeline.
“South African women’s rugby has grown significantly in terms of talent,” Latsha noted. “It’s great to see young players slot into the system smoothly. I’m excited to see them in action.”
Quarterfinals the Target in England
South Africa has been drawn into a competitive Pool with France, Brazil, and Italy. With the tournament format allowing for quarterfinal progression, the Springbok Women have their eyes firmly set on making the playoff rounds.
“The key is taking it one day and one stage at a time. We’re increasing our training intensity because we know the level of competition in our pool,” Latsha explained.
“Italy and France bring experience from the Six Nations, and Brazil is a bit of a wildcard.”
“I believe nothing is impossible if we prepare well and trust our systems. If we stick to the plan, we stand a good chance of making it to the quarterfinals.”
Closing a Chapter in England
Latsha has concluded her three-season stint with English club Harlequins in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), the top-tier women’s league in England. She departs after a successful spell that has seen her evolve both on and off the pitch.
“My time at Harlequins was phenomenal. I’ve grown tremendously, and week in and week out I put in solid performances. It’s proof of what South African players are capable of when given opportunities,” said Latsha.
She spoke highly of the PWR: “It’s the best league in the world in my opinion. The intensity, the diversity, the freedom, and it’s top-class rugby. I had the chance to play with and against some of the best, and I too could easily count myself as potentially one of the best in the world really.”
What’s Next for Latsha?
Though she has confirmed a return to South Africa, Latsha remains tight-lipped about which domestic team she will join. Speculation suggests a move to the Bulls Daisies or a return to Western Province.
“My focus now is the World Cup. I’ll decide on my next club after the tournament. But I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned back into our domestic league.”
With thanks to SportsBoom
