The early start to the season is aimed at maximising preparation opportunities for the Springbok Women as they look towards competing at the Rugby World Cup in England in August.
South Africa’s Women’s Premier Division will kick off an exciting, fast-tracked rugby season at the end of January 2025.
The early start to the season is aimed at maximising preparation opportunities for the Springbok Women as they look towards competing at the Rugby World Cup in England in August.
The defending champions, the Bulls Daisies, will begin their title defence in Nelson Mandela Bay against the EP Queens. This match is just one of several compelling opening fixtures in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season. SA Rugby has scheduled the season to finish by March 28, with the top two teams on the log battling it out in the final.
In this streamlined format, South Africa’s top eight provincial women’s teams will face each other once. The new calendar also aims to give the Springbok Women an extended training period following the domestic league, allowing them to head into the World Cup with optimal preparation and match fitness. Their pool stage matches will see them go up against Brazil, Italy, and France.
Swys de Bruin, performance coach for the Springbok Women, expressed enthusiasm for the adjusted schedule, noting that it would enhance player readiness and selection for the national team.
“It’s great to have the fixtures out, as that will greatly assist the teams to start preparing for the competition, which will be an important guideline for us in selection as well,” he said. “We want to thank SA Rugby and all the unions for their willingness to move the tournament this early, as it will boost our preparations for the Rugby World Cup.”
SA Rugby’s broadcasting partner, SuperSport, has also announced that it will broadcast at least one match from each round, as well as the final, to enhance visibility and engagement with the tournament.
Below are the fixtures for the 2025 Women’s Premier Division:
2025 Women’s Premier Division Fixtures:
Round 1 (Weekend of 25 January): Border Ladies vs Sharks Women; EP Queens vs Bulls Daisies; Sanlam Boland Dames vs Golden Lions Women; DHL Western Province vs Free State Women
Round 2 (Weekend of 1 February): Border Ladies vs Golden Lions Women; Bulls Daisies vs DHL Western Province; Sharks Women vs Free State Women; Sanlam Boland Dames vs EP Queens
Round 3 (Weekend of 8 February): Sharks Women vs EP Queens; Sanlam Boland Dames vs Bulls Daisies; DHL Western Province vs Border Ladies; Free State Women vs Golden Lions Women
Round 4 (Weekend of 15 February): Border Ladies vs Sanlam Boland Dames; Bulls Daisies vs Sharks Women; EP Queens vs Free State Women; Golden Lions Women vs DHL Western Province
Round 5 (Weekend of 1 March): Bulls Daisies vs Border Ladies; EP Queens vs Golden Lions Women; Sharks Women vs DHL Western Province; Free State Women vs Sanlam Boland Dames
Round 6 (Weekend of 8 March): Sanlam Boland Dames vs Sharks Women; DHL Western Province vs EP Queens; Golden Lions Women vs Bulls Daisies; Free State Women vs Border Ladies
Round 7 (Weekend of 21 March): Border Ladies vs EP Queens; Bulls Daisies vs Free State Women; DHL Western Province vs Sanlam Boland Dames; Golden Lions Women vs Sharks Women
Final: 28 March
