Mary Zulu leads new generation as Springbok Women ‘A’ embark on historic Brazil tour

Mary Zulu will lead the newly formed SA Women's 'A' team on their historic tour to Brazil, marking a significant step in South Africa's efforts to build depth around the Springbok Women. The inaugural squad departs for South America on Thursday, facing Brazil 'A' in Sao Paulo on August 24 and 29. The team comprises eight capped internationals, promising Junior Springbok Women, and emerging domestic players.

For Sharks Women's veteran Zulu, who was part of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup squad, the tour offers another chance to earn a spot on higher grounds while mentoring a group with an average age of just under 22. Notably, Luchell Hanekom, a Rugby World Cup veteran, returns from injury, along with Aseza Hele, who made a significant comeback during the recent tour of Fiji.

The squad also includes players who participated in South Africa's successful Rugby Africa Women's Cup campaign, such as Anusckha Ekron, Sino Bhengu, Abigail Smit, Zethu Gcaza, Insaaf Levy, and Shaunique Alexander, with the rest coming from the Junior Springbok Women's group that recently defeated the USA. SA Rugby's General Manager of High-Performance, Dave Wessels, explained that the tour aims to bridge the gap between age-group and senior international rugby, providing emerging players exposure to a different level of competition.

The team also showcases an intentional effort to explore beyond traditional rugby pathways, with Isabella Nel, a former hockey player, being the first athlete selected from SA Rugby's cross-code recruitment program.