Growing the Game
The first half of the season has been another significant chapter in the growth of women’s rugby at the
University of Cape Town. The year began with our largest intake of female players to date, and
attendance at training has remained consistently strong. This continued growth reflects the increasing
interest in women’s rugby on campus and the commitment of the players who continue to invest in the
programme. This season also marks our second campaign in the Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU)
Women’s League and, most notably, UCT’s first-ever participation in the University Sports South Africa
(USSA) Women’s 15s Tournament—a historic milestone for the club.
More Than Rugby
The UCT Women’s Rugby team is about far more than what happens on match day. For many students,
especially those new to the university environment, rugby provides a place to belong. For a few hours
each week, academic pressures, homesickness, financial challenges, and everyday worries are replaced by
teammates, shared purpose, and the simple enjoyment of the game. Every player arrives with a different
story. Some picked up a rugby ball for the first time this year, others returned after previous seasons,
while some brought years of experience. Regardless of where they started, everyone is working towards
the same goal: building something meaningful together.
Building a Lasting Culture
For many years, the challenge wasn’t simply recruiting players—it was building a programme that could
continue growing year after year. That progress has only been possible because of the people behind it.
Players who set the standard through their commitment, coaches who give countless hours to the
programme, and supporters who continue to believe in women’s rugby at UCT have all helped shape
where the programme is today.
As the game grows, so do the expectations. More players are joining, the standard continues to rise, and
the competition becomes stronger every season. Many of our squad members are still developing while
competing against experienced clubs, making patience, consistency, and long-term development more
important than ever.
Progress Beyond the Scoreboard
Results tell only part of the story. While the opening weeks of the WPRU season were challenging, every
match showed clear signs of improvement.
• UCT 0–41 Hamiltons
• UCT 0–22 Collegians
• UCT 10–20 Gardens
The scorelines became progressively closer, reflecting a team that was learning quickly, growing in
confidence, and becoming increasingly competitive. Rather than focusing solely on results, the squad set
small goals each week—improving defensive systems, winning more collisions, executing set pieces, and
playing with greater confidence. Those incremental improvements became the team’s biggest victories.
That growth laid the foundation for another historic achievement as UCT took part in the USSA Women’s
15s Tournament for the first time. The experience provided invaluable exposure against some of the
country’s strongest university programmes and reinforced how much this young team has already
achieved. Throughout the season, the commitment, resilience, and sportsmanship shown by every player
has been outstanding. Under the leadership of captains Matilda Loggernberg and Lilitha Ngcwembe, the
squad continues to improve with every training session and every match.
Looking Ahead
The first half of the season has shown that this programme is moving in the right direction.
Our ambition extends beyond winning matches. We want to build a sustainable programme that
continues to create opportunities for women to play rugby at UCT while leaving the club stronger than we
found it. The foundations are firmly in place. With continued hard work, patience, and belief, the future
of women’s rugby at UCT is exceptionally bright.
