Bok Women Awaken a New Era in South African Rugby After Historic World Cup Run

South African rugby has lived through many iconic moments, but this weekend at Sandy Park, it was the women who gave the country something fresh to believe in. The Bok Women may have bowed out of the Rugby World Cup with a 46-17 defeat to defending champions New Zealand, but their first-ever quarterfinal appearance has been hailed as the start of something bigger.

A Coach Moved To Tears

Head coach Swys de Bruin, who has been around professional rugby for nearly four decades, admitted that this campaign was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Emotional in the aftermath, he called his players “fighters” who never gave up and declared that “a giant is awakened in South African women’s rugby.”

His pride wasn’t misplaced. Against the mighty Black Ferns, South Africa held their own in the first half, scoring three tries a feat Ireland and other big rugby nations failed to achieve. For De Bruin, it wasn’t just about the scoreboard but about how his squad embraced the game plan and executed it with belief.

Nolusindiso Booi’s Last Dance

For Nolusindiso Booi, the 40-year-old captain who played her final World Cup, this was a deeply personal milestone. She spoke with visible pride about leading the team to uncharted territory a place no South African women’s side had ever reached before.

“We were there in that first 40 minutes,” she said, reflecting on the opening exchanges where even the Black Ferns looked unsettled. Yet, she was gracious in acknowledging New Zealand’s class in the second half, framing it as a lesson for the next generation of South African players.

Booi’s leadership has become symbolic for many fans who took to social media, praising her for carrying the team on her shoulders and inspiring younger athletes to dream bigger.

A Cultural Turning Point

Women’s rugby in South Africa has often been overlooked compared to the men’s game, but this World Cup run has sparked fresh conversations about investment, grassroots development, and recognition. For the first time, many fans saw the Bok Women not as outsiders but as contenders capable of shaking up the global game.

The three tries against the Black Ferns have already been clipped and shared widely online, with supporters calling it proof that the women’s side is “finally getting the respect they deserve.”

The Road Ahead

While the scoreboard may show defeat, the legacy of this campaign lies in what it sets up for the future. De Bruin has hinted at the Bok Women being the “sleeping giant” of the sport, and Booi believes the next squad could go even further perhaps all the way to a World Cup final.

For now, South Africa celebrates not just a team that made history, but a movement that feels ready to claim its place on the world stage.

Source: SABC Sport

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