Rugby

An exciting, fun She Speaks Sport exclusive straight from the Women's Rugby World Cup in England! Joining me is our number 10, Libbie Janse van Rensburg who scored two sensational tries in the dominant match last Sunday against Brazil in Northampton.

On the podcast, we chat about the Brazil women's team who made history in becoming the first rugby team to represent their nation in a rugby World Cup. Although the match belonged to the Springboks with a resounding 66 - 6 defeat against the South Americans, there is much respect for Brazil and for their place in this tournament. We chat about the feeling in the camp, the unity, energy and passion and of course, the impact of this Rugby World Cup and how the fans are supporting the Women Boks in a manner that is moving and monumental. The player - fan connection and interaction is at the heart of women's sport and Libbie talks about the emotional connection female athletes have with those who support the games.

I also ask her about that now iconic "tiger" celebration after her second try, and she shares the heartfelt meaning behind this celebration. Spoiler alert - Zambezi fest, Tayla and a promise to young fans. How does she feel about the upcoming Italy game, where the Springbok women have faced close losses to the fired up, hungry to get their first win, Italian side? And a few more insights and takeaways from our conversation on the sidelines at the women's rugby World Cup. This is just for you! Tune in, host some watch parties and keep supporting the team.

The post Libbie JVR – Life from the Women’s Rugby World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Ahead of the Cape Town Sevens series this weekend, I am thrilled to be joined by the captain of the Canadian women’s 7’s team, and Olympic silver medallist Olivia Apps. Olivia is a two – time Olympian, and this year she led the first ever Canadian women’s team to an Olympic final. She has also participated in two Rugby 7’s world cups, two commonwealth games, a rugby 15’s world cup and has been involved in the Rugby 7’s world series for the past 6 years. She also made the Women’s Seven’s dream team of the year as chosen by World Rugby.

On the podcast, Olivia and I dive deep into the Olympic silver win in Paris this year. With the team claiming a place on the podium and writing history, the reinvention of the team since Tokyo in 2021 has been a journey of intensity. Olivia takes us into that journey, and how the team rebuilt. Speaking through the hard times, we get a powerful, inside view of the years that Canada came 11th or even 3rd, and how working through the years with goals in mind was key to where the team has evolved to today. While she may be missing the Dubai and Cape Town sevens, Olivia shares with us about the players who will be getting a change to step into the team and grow on the world stage. We discuss what the Paris win means for women’s rugby in Canada, and how Olivia chooses to lead her team as a captain who inspires the players around her to be their most true selves. Personally, we also talk about alopecia, and Olivia’s outlook on her life since her diagnosis at a very young age.

The post Olivia Apps – Rugby’s Authentic Leader first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Michaela Leonard is the current Wallaroos Captain and is one of the most experienced player sin Australian history, with 32 test caps to her name. She took over the captaincy in 2023 and has led her side to victory in the WXV2 tournament that recently wrapped up in Cape Town.

On the podcast, we discuss the WXV2 tournament and the journey leading up to it. Michaela opens up about the mindset the team had at the start, their goals of maintaining their world ranking, and ultimately aiming to win the WXV2 title. We dive into the crucial warm-up games against Ireland and Wales, and how those matches shaped the team's learnings and prepared them for the upcoming challenges in Cape Town. As captain, Michaela shares her ongoing leadership journey, highlighting the strength that comes from collaboration. She also gives a special nod to the strong leadership surrounding her, underscoring how empowering each other is key to the team's success.

In a fascinating twist, Michaela also reflects on her transition from basketball to rugby and how she went from never watching a rugby union game to now becoming a key figure in a sport she truly loves.

The post Michaela Leonard – Australia’s Passionate Rugby Captain first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Libbie Janse van Rensburg is a powerhouse name in South African women’s rugby. Not only is she flyhalf for the Bulls Daisies, she is also the Springbok women’s flyhalf, and a 2024 Olympian. Last year she picked up awards for the Bulls Daisies backline player of the year, Tuks Rugby player of the year, SA Rugby provincial player of the year, and SA Rugby women’s player of the year. She is currently the top Springbok women’s point scorer in the national team.

Fresh from the Olympics, Libbie and I do a deep dive into the Olympic atmosphere, the cardboard beds, the Seine ceremony experience and what it means to have fulfilled the dream of many Springbok women’s sevens players. Having qualified for two previous Olympics, but denied the chance to compete, we talk about how important these Olympics were for the team. With SA Rugby announcing its intention of forming a new Women’s Super League Rugby, Libbie shares with us her thoughts on this announcement and the continued need to invest in women’s rugby at every level. Is Libbie excited for the upcoming WXV2 in September and what special photo does she carry with her when she travels to play? What was it like playing in front of 66000 people and does the future for women’s sport look bright? This conversation is full of truths about women’s rugby in South Africa and how Libbie has forged her path through injury to the Olympics in 2024.

The post Libbie JV Rensburg – Women’s Rugby at the Olympics first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Having started her athletic career as a netball player, Rumandi Potgieter was part of the first ever team to lift the Varsity Cup trophy with Tuks. Leaving Netball to start rugby with the Tuks’ women’s 7’s was part of her journey as she toured Dubai and France, winning the first and only Varsity Cup 7’s. Currently, she makes her home with the Bulls Daisies, and she made her debut for the Springbok 15’s in 2021, proudly representing South Africa the following year in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

On the pod, Rumandi and I chat about her recent Taylor Swift concert and how much of Taylor’s message and voice resonate with Rumandi as an athlete in a male dominated space. Uncovering the questions female athletes get asked (like does it hurt when you get tackled), we oppose the inequalities in how interviewers approach athlete interviews. Reflecting on the current Bulls Daisies season and the loss to DHL Western Province, Rumandi observes how the pressure and team dynamics has shifted and evolved positively. With the WXV2 tournament taking place, we get hyped about last year’s tournament and how the crowds responded to the team. We also issue a personal invitation to the sport minister, and to you, our listener, an invitation you won’t want to miss.

The post Rumandi Potgieter on Taylor, Tackles, and Triumphs in Rugby first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

The Springbok Rugby women’s sevens team have just returned from playing the Africa Cup Qualifiers in Tunisia, where they secured Olympic qualification for the games in Paris next year. World rugby player of the year and sevens star, Nadine Roos joins me on the show today to discuss this recent win in Tunisia and the team’s determination as they approached the qualifiers.

The post Nadine Roos –  the Rugby Sevens Star first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

On She Speaks Sport today I am joined by Bulls Daisies rugby co – captain Libbie Janse van Rensburg. Libbie played her first season for the Bulls in 2021, where she became their top scorer for the season. She made her bok debut in 2021, and was part of the Springboks 7’s who won the Challenger Series earlier this year, added to this she won the backline player of the season for the Daisies and is currently training with the Springboks for the upcoming WXV tournament in October

On the show Libbie and I talk about professionalising women’s rugby in South Africa and how her team, the Bulls Daisies has changed the narrative through professionalisation. We talk about her journey as a captain in becoming the premier league division winners this year, what keeps her motivated and how she motivates the team around her. Libbie also gives us some insight on the current feeling in the camp as the Springbok women prepare to take on the Barbarians, Samoa, Italy and Scotland. Which team is she looking forward to playing? How can we invest in rugby and women’s sport on different levels, so little girls can dream of a career in sport? It’s all in here, and so much more, join us as we unpack women’s rugby and the future, here in South Africa.

The post Springbok Women with Libbie JV Rensburg first appeared on She Speaks Sport.