Cecil Afrika’s Women Boks have qualified for the HSBC 7s Div III after winning the Rugby Africa 7s Title at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds on Sunday.
South Africa Women’s Sevens legend Cecil Afrika has explained how he masterminded Springbok Women’s Sevens to a dominant 22–0 victory over the Kenya Lionesses in the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s final at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
Afrika, who is part of the South Africa technical setup, revealed that despite limited preparation time, his squad entered the tournament with a clear, ruthless plan.
“The whole season was a challenge for us because most of our players had other commitments, so we only worked with them the week before the tournament,” Afrika said afterward.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News
“However, we understood the bigger picture was about sending the best players to the Rugby World Cup, but now, we have an opportunity to rectify that mistake.”
The Springbok Women outclassed Kenya in all facets particularly in the second half — from ruck speed to width of attack — running in unanswered tries while suffocating the Lionesses with a well-drilled defensive press.
Afrika said the team’s improved cohesion was crucial as they built towards the global Sevens pathway.
“Now that we did win this tournament, we can build on it so that by the time we get to 7s III, we will be more clinical and qualify for 7s II,” he added.
South Africa’s defensive structure, which gave Kenya no room to breathe, was the foundation of the 22–0 shutout. The Lionesses struggled to break the line, often being forced backwards or into turnovers as the visitors’ line speed overwhelmed them.
“We really pride ourselves on defence, which requires work ethic,” Afrika explained. “I think the girls really showed that they care for each other. We closed the spaces really well and denied them any opportunity to create chances.”
)
What Next For WomensBoks?
Looking ahead, Afrika emphasized the need for strong squad rotation and depth as South Africa prepare for major upcoming qualifiers, including the Dubai pathway tournament.
“We will recover and see where we are as a squad,” he said. “There is likely going to be another team that will be going to Dubai. We want to create healthy, competitive depth. We want to take the best possible squad to Dubai to compete and hopefully qualify for 7s II.”
Despite the heavy defeat, the Kenya Lionesses have already secured qualification for Sevens II next year — a reassurance that their long-term goals remain intact even as South Africa delivered a powerful reminder of the standard required at the highest level.
)
