Rugby

This week, I sit down with Mataafa Ramsey Tomokino, a high-performance rugby administrator and former coach for Samoa, currently serving as the General Manager of High Performance for Lakapi Samoa. He is well-known for his coaching success with the Samoan women’s 15-a-side team, Manusina, and the men’s 7s team. Tomokino previously led Manusina to qualification for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and has since stepped into his current high-performance role with the national rugby union. Many will remember the viral press conference at the Rugby World Cup where Ramsey became visibly emotional, overwhelmed by what his players had poured into their campaign. In this episode, we go far beyond that moment.Coach Ramsey reflects on hanging up the whistle and stepping into a new role after leading the women’s team for two decades. Samoa now leads the world in female representation across rugby management, with former players stepping into key leadership roles, something that should be a focus and a celebration in the women’s game. In his time as coach, Ramsey Tomokino always saw himself as a caretaker, laying foundations for a professional future where Samoan women can one day be paid to play the game they love.

We speak about the player pathway from club rugby to the World Cup, the challenge of Samoan players leaving to play for other countries, and the parallels between Manusina and the Springbok women, two teams built on resilience rather than entitlement. “Expect nothing and anything more is a bonus,” are candid words that have carried the team. We also talk about faith and spirituality which is the DNA of what it means to be Samoan.

The Rugby World Cup may have wrapped up, but its stories are still unfolding, stories of pride, growth, purpose, hope and the quiet moments that follow the roar of the crowd. Among the shining lights of South Africa’s campaign is Nadine Roos, a player whose versatility knows no bounds, she’s our wing, fullback, fly-half, (basically anything in the back line!) as well as our sevens star. So I am grateful to be welcoming Nadine on to the podcast today to go behind and beyond the World Cup.

In this episode, she takes us beyond the try line and into the spaces that few see, the stillness after the stadium lights dim, the rhythm of returning home, and the complex dance between a more relaxed schedule and the busyness of the past few weeks. As a natural loner, she reflects on what it means to spend months side by side with her teammates, to share space, spirit, and silence and how interesting the connection and togetherness of a team truly is.

We also explore her connection to culture and meaning, what it felt like to stand opposite the Black Ferns, her deep respect for the Haka, and the lessons she learnt from her New Zealand teammates when playing in Japan. Playing against the Black Ferns is a benchmark moment for her, as playing against the top teams in the world is where you want to be. As Nadine Roos reflects; “these are players to measure yourself against.” It would be remiss not to ask her about starting a maul from a scrum, and her opportunity to embrace that moment and to be the best she could be, with a lot of preparation and conversation with the forwards. 

Over the rugby world cup, many were drawn to Nadine’s story and the hard realities she encountered through her life, a reality she contributes to the success she has experienced. She had a dream without resources, and limited opportunity to make that a reality, yet she tenaciously pursued the dream in her heart. She hopes her life story will impact others, and that she can live a life in line with her values, to light someone elses candle. I ask Nadine about her overall purpose, the “why” of life, and her insight into what it means to truly be living.

Ahead of the Cape Town Sevens series this weekend, I am thrilled to be joined by the captain of the Canadian women’s 7’s team, and Olympic silver medallist Olivia Apps. Olivia is a two – time Olympian, and this year she led the first ever Canadian women’s team to an Olympic final. She has also participated in two Rugby 7’s world cups, two commonwealth games, a rugby 15’s world cup and has been involved in the Rugby 7’s world series for the past 6 years. She also made the Women’s Seven’s dream team of the year as chosen by World Rugby.

On the podcast, Olivia and I dive deep into the Olympic silver win in Paris this year. With the team claiming a place on the podium and writing history, the reinvention of the team since Tokyo in 2021 has been a journey of intensity. Olivia takes us into that journey, and how the team rebuilt. Speaking through the hard times, we get a powerful, inside view of the years that Canada came 11th or even 3rd, and how working through the years with goals in mind was key to where the team has evolved to today. While she may be missing the Dubai and Cape Town sevens, Olivia shares with us about the players who will be getting a change to step into the team and grow on the world stage. We discuss what the Paris win means for women’s rugby in Canada, and how Olivia chooses to lead her team as a captain who inspires the players around her to be their most true selves. Personally, we also talk about alopecia, and Olivia’s outlook on her life since her diagnosis at a very young age.

Michaela Leonard is the current Wallaroos Captain and is one of the most experienced player sin Australian history, with 32 test caps to her name. She took over the captaincy in 2023 and has led her side to victory in the WXV2 tournament that recently wrapped up in Cape Town.

On the podcast, we discuss the WXV2 tournament and the journey leading up to it. Michaela opens up about the mindset the team had at the start, their goals of maintaining their world ranking, and ultimately aiming to win the WXV2 title. We dive into the crucial warm-up games against Ireland and Wales, and how those matches shaped the team’s learnings and prepared them for the upcoming challenges in Cape Town. As captain, Michaela shares her ongoing leadership journey, highlighting the strength that comes from collaboration. She also gives a special nod to the strong leadership surrounding her, underscoring how empowering each other is key to the team’s success.

In a fascinating twist, Michaela also reflects on her transition from basketball to rugby and how she went from never watching a rugby union game to now becoming a key figure in a sport she truly loves.

Having started her athletic career as a netball player, Rumandi Potgieter was part of the first ever team to lift the Varsity Cup trophy with Tuks. Leaving Netball to start rugby with the Tuks’ women’s 7’s was part of her journey as she toured Dubai and France, winning the first and only Varsity Cup 7’s. Currently, she makes her home with the Bulls Daisies, and she made her debut for the Springbok 15’s in 2021, proudly representing South Africa the following year in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

On the pod, Rumandi and I chat about her recent Taylor Swift concert and how much of Taylor’s message and voice resonate with Rumandi as an athlete in a male dominated space. Uncovering the questions female athletes get asked (like does it hurt when you get tackled), we oppose the inequalities in how interviewers approach athlete interviews. Reflecting on the current Bulls Daisies season and the loss to DHL Western Province, Rumandi observes how the pressure and team dynamics has shifted and evolved positively. With the WXV2 tournament taking place, we get hyped about last year’s tournament and how the crowds responded to the team. We also issue a personal invitation to the sport minister, and to you, our listener, an invitation you won’t want to miss.

The Springbok Rugby women’s sevens team have just returned from playing the Africa Cup Qualifiers in Tunisia, where they secured Olympic qualification for the games in Paris next year. World rugby player of the year and sevens star, Nadine Roos joins me on the show today to discuss this recent win in Tunisia and the team’s determination as they approached the qualifiers.
We also talk about how the team handled the pressure at the tournament and the tough circumstances that faced them as they played in Africa. Reflecting deeply on her faith and upbringing in the home of our grandmother Ouma Sarie, Nadine shares a glimpse of the tough times and how her grandmother’s wisdom and faith paved a profound connection to religion in her own life. As an introvert Nadine has learnt to handle the media attention and the public spotlight, so how does she do that? And what advice would she give to her younger self? We also touch on the importance of paving a bright future for women in rugby, and how we can do that as spectators, players and investors. And of course, Nadine discusses the on-field emotions players have to manage with calmness and respect, especially when referees aren’t impartial. The rest of 2023 and its rugby calendar is exciting, so where will Nadine and the team be heading to over the next few weeks, tune in and find out here.

On She Speaks Sport today I am joined by Bulls Daisies rugby co – captain Libbie Janse van Rensburg. Libbie played her first season for the Bulls in 2021, where she became their top scorer for the season. She made her bok debut in 2021, and was part of the Springboks 7’s who won the Challenger Series earlier this year, added to this she won the backline player of the season for the Daisies and is currently training with the Springboks for the upcoming WXV tournament in October

On the show Libbie and I talk about professionalising women’s rugby in South Africa and how her team, the Bulls Daisies has changed the narrative through professionalisation. We talk about her journey as a captain in becoming the premier league division winners this year, what keeps her motivated and how she motivates the team around her. Libbie also gives us some insight on the current feeling in the camp as the Springbok women prepare to take on the Barbarians, Samoa, Italy and Scotland. Which team is she looking forward to playing? How can we invest in rugby and women’s sport on different levels, so little girls can dream of a career in sport? It’s all in here, and so much more, join us as we unpack women’s rugby and the future, here in South Africa.