Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin named an extended 49-player squad ahead of a demanding international schedule that includes away Tests against Fiji, a home fixture against the Black Ferns in Soweto, the Global WXV tournament in Europe, and two year-ending matches against Ireland in Cape Town.
The announcement follows the completion of the Rugby Africa Women's Cup and a two-Test series against the USA Women's Eagles. De Bruin confirmed that several players outside the recent touring group have received invitations as the squad enters its next preparation phase.
"The next phase of our preparation starts now, and we have extended invitations to some players outside of the group that did so well in Kenya and against the USA," De Bruin said. "The players who did duty against the USA will have a short break before all the invited players start to reconvene in Stellenbosch the following week in various groups based on individual development needs."
The 49-player group will gather in Stellenbosch in stages, with training organised around individual development requirements. The squad features eight props, five hookers, six locks, ten loose and utility forwards, three scrumhalves, three flyhalves, six centres and eight outside backs. The Global WXV fixtures will see the Springbok Women face Wales, Italy and Spain in Europe before returning home for the Ireland series.