South Africa Eye Redemption Against Spain in SVNS Division Two Opener

South Africa’s Mathrin Simmers charges through the Spain defense on day three of the HSBC SVNS Grand Final at Stadium Civitas Metropolitano on 2 June, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

South Africa will face Spain on the opening day of the HSBC SVNS Division 2 in Nairobi on Saturday, 14 February at 09:22 AM local time (EAT). (Fixtures and Broadcasting Information Below)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - In mid-2024, South Africa’s Women’s Sevens team lost their HSBC SVNS core status after suffering a “hurtful” defeat to hosts Spain in the final of a play-off tournament.

The pain of relegation in that tournament is still being felt by Springbok Women’s Sevens head coach Cecil Afrika, who is eager to inflict revenge when the two sides clash in their opening match of the SVNS Division Two tournament in Nairobi this Saturday, February 14.

“In 2024, we played against Spain in Madrid in the play-off stage, and they managed to beat us,” Afrika, who was the assistant coach at the time, tells Rugby Africa Media.

“So some of us are really, really hurting, and we want to rectify that mistake this coming weekend against them in our opening game. So we’re really, really looking forward to that challenge.”

After facing the Spaniards, South Africa will take on Brazil and hosts Kenya on the opening day. On Sunday, they will clash with China and Argentina to conclude the pool games.

“I think we have played them in the past – China, Brazil, Kenya, Argentina and Spain. We’ve beaten most of them before, and they’ve also beaten us. It’s about making sure that on the day we implement our plan to the best of our ability.”

Former South Africa men’s Sevens star Afrika is also looking to minimise mistakes in every game to put his side in contention for promotion at the end of the second-tier competition.

“Our mentality going into this type of format is to win every game,” he says.

“If we don’t, it might cost us as we try to make it into the top four. So our approach is to win every single game and to make sure we win with a big margin. Even if we do lose, we must lose within seven points to give ourselves the best opportunity after the entire tournament so that we are in the top four.”

Afrika and his team are returning to Nairobi, the scene of their 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens success in November.

“Obviously it does help because we’ve been there in African tournaments, staying in the same hotel with the other teams, but now playing in a different stadium (Nyayo Stadium),” Afrika says.

“But obviously the traffic and all that kind of stuff can play a role mentally. Most of us have been there, so those are the types of things we talk about to make sure that they don’t derail us from what we want to achieve and what we have set for ourselves. So we are really looking forward to the games.”

Afrika has named an experienced squad for the historic tournament, the first SVNS leg to be hosted by an African country outside South Africa.

Ten of the 12-woman squad were in Dubai last month, where South Africa clinched the SVNS Division 3 title to progress to this stage.

“I am happy with the squad,” Afrika told the SA Rugby website.

“The players have worked really hard over the last couple of weeks to get ready for this competition, and I am happy for them. They are determined to do well and start the qualification process on a good note. We prepared well, and we are ready for this unique challenge.”

The Springbok Women’s Sevens Squad Nadine Roos (captain), Leigh Fortuin, Asisipho Plaatjies, Patience Mokone, Maria Tshiremba, Byrhandré Dolf, Liske Lategan, Simamkele Namba, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Ayanda Malinga, Lerato Makua, Shannon-Lee Windvogel.

Supersport: Channel 951/Variety 2

Participating Teams

Women: Kenya,China,Spain,Brazil, South Africa, Argentina Men: Kenya, USA, Germany, Uruguay, Belgium, Canada

More information: Click Here

Match Day 1: Saturday 14 February 2026 (EAT) (GMT+3)

Women

• 09:00 – China vs Argentina
• 09:22 – Spain vs South Africa
• 09:44 – Brazil vs Kenya
• 12:02 – Spain vs Argentina
• 12:24 – Brazil vs South Africa
• 12:46 – China vs Kenya
• 15:04 – Brazil vs Argentina
• 15:26 – China vs Spain
• 15:48 – Kenya vs South Africa

Men

• 10:06 – USA vs Belgium
• 10:28 – Uruguay vs Germany
• 10:50 – Kenya vs Canada
• 13:08 – Uruguay vs USA
• 13:30 – Germany vs Canada
• 13:52 – Kenya vs Belgium
• 16:10 – USA vs Canada
• 16:32 – Uruguay vs Belgium
• 16:54 – Kenya vs Germany

Match Day 2: Sunday 15 February 2026 (EAT) (GMT+3)

Women

• 11:00 – China vs South Africa
• 11:22 – Brazil vs Spain
• 11:44 – Kenya vs Argentina
• 15:12 – South Africa vs Argentina
• 15:34 – Brazil vs China
• 15:56 – Spain vs Kenya

Men

• 12:06 – Canada vs Belgium
• 12:28 – USA vs Germany
• 12:50 – Kenya vs Uruguay
• 16:18 – Germany vs Belgium
• 16:40 – Uruguay vs Canada
• 17:02 – Kenya vs USA