The Springbok Women's Sevens team has shown strong form in the HSBC SVNS series, losing only one of their 10 games across two tournaments. Skipper Nadine Roos has been key to this success through her leadership and on-field performance. The team now sits second in SVNS 2 after promotion from the third division.
The Springbok Women's Sevens squad began the year in the third division of the HSBC SVNS series after failing to qualify directly. In January, they competed in Dubai for SVNS 3, winning gold by securing victory in every game and earning promotion to SVNS 2 alongside Argentina.
Head coach Cecil Afrika praised Roos for her dedication. "I think it’s the dedication that really stands out to me, like the work that she puts in on the field, the discipline, the commitment," he told Daily Maverick. "You can see every game that she plays, she gives literally everything, and you can see through the way she plays what it means to her."
Roos, who debuted for the Bok Sevens in 2016 in Dubai, has represented South Africa in major events including the Commonwealth Games, the 2018 World Cup Sevens, captaining the 2022 edition, the 2024 Paris Olympics, and reaching the quarterfinals at the 2025 Rugby World Cup in the 15s format. She has scored 75 points over the two tournaments with a 74% conversion rate and serves as the team's main playmaker and kicker.
"We truly blessed to have her as a leader," Afrika added. "Nadine is more of a show type of leader in the way she leads, the way she plays, the way she trains, and she inspires the team with that type of leadership."
In the recent SVNS 2 tournament on 14 and 15 February in Nairobi, Kenya, the team finished second, one point behind Argentina, with their only loss to Brazil. The players maintained training through the festive season to prepare. Roos is nominated for the SA Rugby Women’s Play of the Year award, having won it in 2022 and 2025.
Two more tournaments remain in SVNS 2, including the next on 21 and 22 March in Montevideo, Uruguay. To promote to SVNS 1, the team needs a top-four finish. Afrika emphasized consistency: "It’s about the athletes understanding when to go to sleep, how you recover, what to eat, all of that stuff."
