Japie Mulder's daughter Jané earns BlitzBoks Women call-up after two years in the game

Jané Mulder, daughter of 1995 World Cup winner Japie, has been called up to the BlitzBoks Women's squad for the World Championship in Hong Kong — a remarkable rise given she only took up rugby two years ago.

The 19-year-old did not take the field during the tournament, but her inclusion in the squad comes after a rapid progression through the system. South Africa claimed one of the standout results of the competition with a 19-5 win over Great Britain Sevens during the event.

Jané's route into the game was largely self-initiated. Having expressed an interest in rugby at 16 only to find no accessible club, she quietly began training with the Wits ladies team during her matric year at Helpmekaar College in Braamfontein — without telling her father.

"After about a month, she came to me and said, 'I've started playing rugby, and I need to play this weekend,'" Japie Mulder told Rugby365. "She did it on her own."

She went on to represent Golden Lions Women, earned a Junior Springbok Women's call-up, and has since signed for UP-Tuks. Earlier in 2025, she trained with the Springbok Women's Sevens and featured for the 'A' side at the Dubai Sevens International Invitational.

Japie, 56, is measured about her progress. "It's still early days. She hasn't proved or played herself into anything yet, but she's in the system. So that's already a big bonus."

He admits the reality of his daughter playing rugby took adjustment. "If you asked me two or three years ago if I would see her playing rugby, I would have said no way. It's never easy when your daughters play rugby — but I suppose I need to get with the programme."

On the broader state of women's rugby in South Africa, Mulder pointed to uneven investment across provinces. With the Bulls Daisies currently the only professional women's outfit in the country, he believes his own union is falling short.

"In Pretoria, the women's rugby programme is quite big. But as for the Lions, I think they can put a lot more effort in. I do believe here at the Lions, they're probably a little bit behind."

He argues that financial commitment will be decisive if South Africa is to close the gap on New Zealand and Australia at international level.