Kolisi urges support for Springbok Women before Black Ferns Test

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has backed the Springbok Women ahead of their historic curtain-raiser against the Black Ferns in Soweto on Saturday, saying the match represents an important moment for women’s rugby in South Africa.

The Springbok Women will play before the third Test in the Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand. Kolisi, who has a strong interest in the women’s team and women’s sport, said he was delighted to see the players preparing for the occasion.

“It’s special and exciting – it’s been awesome to see how excited the girls are to play tomorrow,” said Kolisi.

The fixture comes at the end of a difficult week for Babalwa Latsha’s side, following the announcement that coach Swys de Bruin had left the setup.

Despite the disruption, Kolisi believes the match will provide a significant opportunity for the Springbok Women and for the wider development of the sport in South Africa.

He said the visit of the Black Ferns had already helped showcase the country’s rugby culture, with supporters of the All Blacks experiencing South Africa during the tour. The women’s teams will now share that stage before the main Test.

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing how many All Blacks fans have enjoyed South Africa on this tour. Their people are getting to experience our country, our mood, and what rugby means here, and now the women get to experience that as well.”

Kolisi also called on South African supporters to give the Springbok Women the same backing they offer his team. He highlighted the strength and record of their opponents, who have won the Rugby World Cup and remained among the most successful teams in international women’s rugby for many years.

“The Black Ferns have won the Rugby World Cup, and they’ve been one of the most successful teams for a very long time, so it’s going to be a great game alongside ours.

“Babalwa is really looking forward to it, and the more people we can get to that game, the better. The more we support the women’s game, the bigger our sport grows. So, it’s not just the women’s game, it’s our game as a whole.”

Kolisi’s comments come as the Springbok Women prepare to play in front of the Soweto crowd before the third Test of the Greatest Rivalry series. He said the occasion should be viewed not only as a separate women’s fixture, but as part of South Africa’s rugby programme as a whole.

The match will give supporters the chance to see the Springbok Women take on the Black Ferns on the same day that South Africa and New Zealand continue their rivalry at Test level. For Kolisi, greater attendance and support for the curtain-raiser would help strengthen the women’s game and contribute to the growth of rugby across the country.