AS South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, Grahamstown has reason to celebrate as Daphne Scheepers has become the first local woman to make the Springbok rugby women’s side.
AS South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, Grahamstown has reason to celebrate as Daphne Scheepers has become the first local woman to make the Springbok rugby women’s side.
Scheepers is one of 12 women from the Eastern Province who make up the Springbok squad of 26 players to take part in the International Rugby Board Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 event in England.
According to Amie Kuhn of EP Rugby, Scheepers is the first woman from Grahamstown to become a Springbok.
This year’s tournament features twelve teams and will be held from 20 August to 5 September at Surrey Sports Park in England.
South Africa will be determined to improve on its first World Cup outing in 2006, when the team finished in eighth place.
Dorothy Tsotsobe, the co-ordinator of women’s rugby in the Eastern Province, believes Scheepers will “make an impact in the South African team.
At first glance, Tsotsobe says one may think there is no speed in Scheepers, “but wow, it’s a miracle,” said Tsostsobe of the Springbok’s speed.
Tsotsobe said she is happy that Sceepers is part of the Springboks, as she is one of very few that make it from the sub unions.
Coach Denver Wannies said he is looking forward to seeing the team in action at the World Cup in England. “The players worked extremely hard and made huge sacrifices and their selection is just reward for their efforts.
I am satisfied with our preparation so far but they know there’s still a lot of work to be done between now and when we leave for the UK on 15 August,” said Wannies.
SARU President Regan Hoskins congratulated the players on their selection: “The SA Women’s team has
made great strides during the past two seasons.
I have no doubt they will made us extremely proud and, on behalf of SARU, I want to wish them well in their World Cup campaign.”
Scheepers said she was at first surprised when she received the national call up, “but I had told myself that I was always going to make it”. She says: “Playing for the national team is a privilege.”
