Sizophila Solontsi, a former teacher and gym instructor, is making history as a member of the Bulls Daisies, the first South African rugby union to offer full professional contracts for female players. Solontsi, a Springbok women’s and Bulls Daisies No 8, began playing rugby as a fun activity while studying at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), thanks to a study bursary for female rugby players. It has been a humbling experience for Solontsi, who never imagined that playing rugby professionally in a national team was possible and started playing just to pay her tuition fees.
The Daisies have won all six matches so far in the Women’s Premier Division, despite rarely playing at full strength due to the Springbok Women’s trip to Madagascar for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup. Solontsi, who has been playing rugby for over a decade and captained the SA Women’s Sevens team at the Sevens World Cup and the Women’s Rugby World Cup, said the professionalism and platform to grow her individual and rugby skills has been a big reason she joined the Daisies. Solontsi added that many women in South Africa are looking for such opportunities.
