Cecil Afrika, the South Africa Women’s seven-a-side rugby coach has retained the bulk of the players who retained the Rugby Africa title in Nairobi, Kenya for the World Rugby Tier 3 Sevens tournament to be played in Dubai between January 17-18, 2026.

The captain’s band has been handed to Nadine Roos, South Africa women’s Rugby player of the Year in 2025. Already some of the players had a feel of the conditions at the tournament venue when they played in the South Africa Women’s A team at Dubai Sevens towards the end of last year. 

Shiniqwa Lampretch captained the development side that included Liske Lategan, Leight Fortuin, Vianca Boer, Patience Mokone, and Byrhandre Dolf. 

Before the team’s departure on Monday, Afrika, in an interview with SA Rugby Magazine said the players knew what was at stake: “Our focus is on standards and processes. We know what we need to do and by keeping our focus, how to get there,” he stated.

SA Favored

South Africa, one of the teams favored to qualify for the Tier Two competition, have been drawn in Pool A and face Mexico, Thailand and Czechia. Pool B has Argentina, Colombia, Poland and Samoa. Only the top two teams in each category shall qualify for the Tier Two competition that kicks off February 14-15 in Nairobi Kenya.

The next two tournaments are slated for Montevideo, Uruguay from March 21-22 before heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil on the following weekend, March 28-29. Kenya, the other Afroca women’s team await the results from Dubai as they are already in the Tier Two competition.

Recently, Argentina, the second seeded team also named their team for the tournament in Dubai. Madagascar, the other Africa team in Dubai shall compete in the men’s category. 

South Africa: Leigh Fortuin, Asisipho Plaatjies, Patience Mokone, Zintle Mpupha, Maria Tshiremba, Nadine, Byrhandre Dolf, Liske Letegan, Simamkele Namba, Vianca Boer, Shiniqwa Lampretch, Ayanda  Malinga.

Argentina: Virginia Brigido, Candela Delgado, Malena Diaz, Cristal Escalante, Magali Gervasio, Sofia Gonzalez and Francesca Lacaruso. Others are Milagros Lequona, Azul Medina, Paula Pedrozo, Antonella Reding, Talia Rodich and Maria Taladrid.

World Rugby Tier 3 Sevens tournament, Dubai, January 17-18.

Pools and Fixtures

Women

Pool A: South Africa, Thailand, Czechia, Mexico.

Pool B: Argentina, Colombia, Poland, Samoa

Colombia v Poland, Argentina v Samoa, Thailand v Czechia, South Africa v Mexico, Colombia v Samoa, Argentina v Poland, Thailand v Mexico, South Africa v Czechia, Poland v Samoa, Argentina v Colombia, Czechia v Mexico, South Africa v Thailand, 

Men

Pool A: Colombia, Hong Kong China, Samoa, Tonga.

Pool B: Belgium, Canada, Italy, Madagascar.

Madagascar v Belgium, Canada v Italy, Tonga v Hong Kong China, Samoa v Colombia,  Madagascar v Italy, Canada v Belgium, Tonga v Colombia, Samoa v Hong Kong China, Belgium v Italy, Canada v Madagascar, Hong Kong China v Colombia, Samoa v Tonga.

Sunday, January 17

Women

Fifth Place Semi Final: A3 v B4, B3 v A4, 

Cup Semi Finals: A1 v B2, B1 v A2.

Men

Fifth Place Semi Final: A3 v B4, B3 v A4,Cup Semi Finals: A1 v B2, B1 v A2.