Nolusindiso Booi Bows Out: A Trailblazing Springbok Women’s Captain Who Changed The Game

A Captain Who Defined An Era

South African rugby has bid farewell to one of its true pioneers. Nolusindiso “Cindy” Booi, the face of Springbok Women’s rugby for more than a decade, has retired after leading the national side to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. Her final Test came in the quarterfinal defeat to defending champions New Zealand, closing the curtain on a remarkable 15-year international career.

With 55 caps, Booi leaves as the most capped Springbok Women’s player of all time, as well as the longest-serving captain, having led the team in 26 internationals. For fans, teammates and the wider rugby community, her name is now etched into history alongside South Africa’s greats.

From Taxis To World Cups

Booi’s story is one of grit and resilience. Starting out with Border in 2007, she often had to take multiple taxis just to make it to training. By 2010, she was wearing the green and gold, making her Test debut against Kazakhstan and playing her first World Cup in England that same year. She would go on to feature in four Rugby World Cups, captaining South Africa in two of them, including the 2022 tournament in New Zealand.

She also lifted the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup four times with the Springbok Women, proving her leadership was more than symbolic it translated into tangible success on the field.

A Role Model For The Next Generation

Speaking on her retirement, Booi reflected on how the meaning of the jersey changed over time. “At first it’s about proving you belong. Later, it’s about the responsibility to inspire the next generation,” she said.

Her words echo loudly in a South Africa where young girls are increasingly turning to rugby as a sport of choice. Many fans online have credited her with “changing the face of women’s rugby in Mzansi,” while others hailed her as a “tower of strength” for navigating the game through its growing pains.

The Legacy She Leaves Behind

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander called her “an undoubted icon” who led with dignity and courage, and whose career showed that women’s rugby in South Africa can thrive on the global stage.

Booi’s leadership wasn’t just tactical; it was cultural. She represented the rise of professionalism in women’s rugby here at home, transitioning from a time when the team had limited resources to the present era, where the Springbok Women are seen as genuine contenders.

Her journey from grassroots rugby in the Eastern Cape to captaining her country on the world stage will remain one of South Africa’s great sporting stories.

Social Media Reaction

Her retirement has been met with an outpouring of respect and gratitude online. One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Cindy Booi gave everything for the jersey. She walked so the next generation can run.” Another shared: “What Siya Kolisi did for the Boks, Nolusindiso did for the women’s game.”

Hanging Up the Boots

As she steps away from the pitch, Booi does so with the knowledge that the jersey is “in a better place” than when she first wore it. And in many ways, that’s the greatest victory of her career.

South African sport will now look for the next generation of leaders, but they will do so knowing that Nolusindiso Booi has already drawn the map.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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