Nine uncapped ladies included in fresh Springbok Women training squad

The first of two camps took place in Somerset West on Sunday and will culminate in a two-match tour for the SA Women's 'A' team to Brazil later this month.

The group is part of the Springbok Women Academy set-up, where players not involved in the Test match squads are training together as part of the wider national squad.

Amongst those are Luchell Hanekom, who is returning from injury, and Mary Zulu, who last played for the Springbok Women at the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Kenya earlier this year.

Several members of the recent Junior Springbok Women team that faced the USA Women's U20s have also been called into camp.

The squad will be based at the Rhino Rugby facility in Somerset West until Friday when they will travel to Pretoria for a warm-up match against the Isuzu Bulls Daisies. They will return to their homes until 14 August and will assemble in Somerset West again.

The Springbok Women 'A'-squad of 26 players will then leave for Johannesburg on 19 August and depart for Brazil a day later. They will face their Brazilian counterparts on 24 and 29 August in Brasilia and Sao Paulo, before returning to South Africa.

Springbok Women Academy training squad:

Forwards (16): Anusckha Ekron*, Iviwe Jonas, Anothando Khatshwa, Jada Davids, Luchell Hanekom*, Abigail Smit*, Kaylee Daniels, Courtney Hickson, Yonelisa Plaatjie, Kaylin Heuvel, Sino Bhengu*, Avela Gwala, Karabo Lebotsa, Zethu Gcaza*, Emihle Mayitshe, Yonda Nokwe.

Backs (14): Insaaf Levy*, Anita Fazi, Hayley Hardneck, Chloe Adams, Mary Zulu*, Lithalethu Nombakuse, Yhadwa de Vos, Yamkela Funani, Lilitha Vakalisa, Thobile Msizazwe, Shaunique Alexander*, Lidene Kruger, Jakkie Cilliers*, Isabella Nel.