Blow as Lionesses fall to Springboks in Rugby Africa Women’s Cup

Kenya Women Rugby national team, Lionesses, dreams of participating in the World Cup and WXV3 were shuttered after suffering a second defeat in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in the hands of Springbok Women on Wednesday afternoon in the match held in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Under Coach Paul Murunga's tutelage, the Lionesses witnessed a commanding performance from the South African team, who secured a convincing 63-5 victory over the Lionesses.

From the onset, the Springbok Women showcased their dominance, with Lusanda Dumke scoring within the first four minutes, setting the tone for the game. Throughout the match, South Africa dominated the proceedings, with the likes of Dumke and Aphiwe Ngwevu continually threatening the Lionesses, making it difficult for the Kenyan team to gain momentum.

Despite glimpses of brilliance from the Lionesses, Rose Otieno scored the lone try for Kenya with a conversion by Diana Omoso sailing wide; the team struggled with handling errors and missed tackles, allowing the Springbok Women to maintain control. The South African side capitalized on these opportunities, with Sikholiwe Mdletshe and Jacomina Cilliers contributing to their team's scoreboard.

The Springbok Women continued their relentless attack as the game progressed, scoring five tries in the second half to secure their comprehensive victory.

With this defeat, the Kenya Lionesses will now focus on their upcoming match against Cameroon in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2024; this match will, however, not have any impact as their World Cup dreams have been dealt a blow.

The tournament winner will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the first runner-up will qualify for the WXV3 competition.

Despite the setback, the Lionesses will aim to regroup and perform strongly in their final fixture of the tournament on Sunday, May 12th.