SA Rugby’s stellar 2025: Beyond the Springboks’ success
South African rugby reached unprecedented heights in 2025 with the Springboks defending their Rugby Championship title, an unbeaten UK tour, and significant advancements in women’s and junior rugby, as highlighted by SA Rugby High Performance general manager Dave Wessels. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP
Image: Paul Ellis/AFP
South African rugby is at an all-time high according to SA Rugby High Performance general manager Dave Wessels.
In 2025, the Springboks not only defended their Rugby Championship title for the first time but also went on an unbeaten November tour to the United Kingdom, which included a victory against Ireland in Dublin for the first time since 2012.
But the men’s side were not the only ones who experienced unprecedented success.
The women’s and junior rugby sides made incredible strides, which bodes well for the future of the sport in South Africa. The Springbok women reached the quarter-finals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time in their history, and the men’s Springbok side also won the Under-20 World Championships.
Wessels’ Vision for Women’s Rugby and Junior Men’s Development at SA Rugby
“I’m so excited for women’s rugby. Being at the World Cup, you could feel the energy, not just for rugby, but for women’s sport in general. We’re going through a massive social change,” Wessels told SportsBoom.co.za.
“Our goal is to compete at the next World Cup. Ultimately, we want women’s rugby to be run by women, and we want to have a female head coach in the near future.”
On the junior men’s side, there has also been significant development.
“Yes, we want to win, but our job is to ensure players graduate to the senior side, like Zach Porthern coming through. We want them to be good franchise players and ultimately great Springboks.”
Wessels, who joined SA Rugby from the Stormers, now runs the women’s and junior sides in the country.
“The Stormers was a great environment, but to work for SA Rugby is special.”