SA Rugby mourns passing of former Springbok Women captain Lusanda Dumke

SA RUGBY has paid tribute to former Springbok Women captain Lusanda Dumke, who passed away in East London in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a battle with a rare form of gastric cancer. She was 29.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander described Dumke as a player whose impact went far beyond the rugby field, praising her leadership, courage, and resilience throughout her career and personal journey.

“Lusanda will be remembered not only as a former captain of our Springbok Women team, but also as a symbol of courage, leadership, and resilience far beyond her years,” said Alexander. “She played the game with heart and humility, always giving everything she had for her team. Her work ethic, toughness, and selfless commitment set the standard, and she led by example every time she stepped onto the field.”

Alexander added that Dumke continued to inspire those around her even while facing immense personal challenges. “She carried herself with dignity and strength, inspiring teammates and supporters on and off the field. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the example she set, and the pride with which she represented her team and country.”

Dumke was named SA Rugby Women’s Rugby Player of the Year in 2022 and earned 33 Test caps for South Africa, scoring 10 tries during her international career. She captained the Springbok Women on three occasions and also represented the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.

Born on 11 September 1996, Dumke made her provincial debut for the Border Ladies in 2015 at the age of 18. She went on to make her Test debut in 2018 against Wales in Cardiff, quickly establishing herself as a regular member of the national side.

Her leadership qualities came to the fore in 2021 when she captained South Africa for the first time against Kenya in a two-Test series in Stellenbosch. She later led the team again against Australia in 2024.

Dumke was part of the Springbok Women squad that competed at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where she featured in all three pool matches against France, Fiji, and England. Her final Test appearance came in 2024 against Italy during the WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town.

Equally effective in the shorter format of the game, Dumke represented the Springbok Women’s Sevens team in Cape Town in 2019 and later competed in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup in Tunisia in 2022, where South Africa successfully defended their continental title.

At the provincial level, she captained both Border and the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to title success, further cementing her reputation as a respected leader.

“On behalf of SA Rugby, we extend our deepest condolences to the Dumke family, her loved ones, friends, and teammates,” said Alexander. “Losing someone so young to cancer is heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with all who loved and supported her during this difficult journey.”