SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer has set an audacious goal for the Women Springboks’ Rugby World Cup 2029 tournament.

Earlier this year, South Africa reached the quarter-finals for the first time but bowed out at that stage when they were beaten by defending champions New Zealand.

Former Springboks assistant coach and ex-Lions boss Swys de Bruin coached the team to the landmark and has since been rewarded with a contract extension through to the next tournament.

Swys de Bruin re-signing

While Oberholzer says that it was important to secure De Bruin’s services long-term, the boost that the women’s game will receive next year will have a greater impact.

“Swys de Bruin is staying on as the Women’s coach until the next World Cup, so that is a positive step for us,” the CEO told the SABC.

“We are moving away from a cycle of coaches coaching for one World Cup cycle, and then we feel it’s important for them to change.”

SA Rugby plans to have six professional women’s rugby teams by next year and asked if their plans are on track. Oberholzer replied: “Yes, we are indeed.

“So, we are in the final stages of finalising our professional women’s league that will kick off soon.”

The Bulls Daisies were the first South African women’s team to go professional, with five more clubs set to follow suit, and the SA Rugby boss believes this move could elevate the Women Boks to the top of international rugby.

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Oberholzer believes the move will not only position South Africa to compete better at the next Rugby World Cup but perhaps even clinch a medal, which is the new target.

“We hope to have six teams that will perform, and we believe that is the first step of all giving our women a fair opportunity to be professional rugby players, but also to prepare them so that when the 2029 World Cup comes around, we’re in a position to win a medal, and that is what we are striving to do,” he continued.

“So we believe that a professional women’s league will dramatically assist us to take our women to the next step, so that they can compete not only for play-offs but for the title.”

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Black Ferns clash

Additionally, South Africa’s preparation for the next World Cup ramps up in 2026 when they will face off against the Black Ferns in a double-header at FNB Stadium next year.

“We want to become the best by playing the best and knowing that we will face the Black Ferns as part of a double-header with the Springboks and All Blacks in such a wonderful venue like FNB Stadium is massive for us,” De Bruin said earlier this month.

“This Test adds a new dynamic to our 2026 season and will provide us a real test of our progress as we start our next World Cup cycle.”

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