Twenty-one year old Saloma Booysen has been a Springbok rugby player since the age of seventeen years. When representing Eastern Province in Cape Town, she was seen by the Springbok selectors who immediately selected her as a member of one of the first ever woman’s Springbok rugby teams. She then represented South Africa at the World Cup in Canada in 2006. She was one of two woman players chosen from the Karoo. The remainder of the squad came from Port Elizabeth, showing that most of the players in the National Team are from the Eastern Province.Saloma is not only Captain of Aberdeen Rugby Club she is also Captain of South Africa’s Seven’s Team.
At present Saloma is training and preparing for the 2009 Sevens World Cup to be played in Dubai. On the continent of Africa only South Africa and Uganda have qualified for this event.
Training camps for woman’s rugby are usually held in Uitenhage or in Johannesburg. The financial sponsor is Sasol, and for clothing, Canterbury Clothing.
The Blue Bull’s Woman’s Rugby Team was the South African Champions until last year when Eastern Province beat them in the finals. This year Eastern Province beat the Blue Bulls 24-12 in the semi-finals on the Bull’s home ground, and they beat Border on Border’s home ground in the finals, 32-8. Saloma scored two tries in the final match.
Saloma is not a tall young lady, but on the field she is an extremely fast and aggressive player who will take on any opponent irrespective of their size. She has a great passion and dedication for the game.
The downside of woman’s rugby is that they do not have contracts, or individual sponsorship to assist them with living or traveling expenses, which are not covered by Sasol. These Springbok woman rugby players, like the Springbok men rugby players, make a full time commitment to the game. Sponsorship or an organized form of paying contract should therefore be made available to them as well.
Desmond Coetzee who coaches Saloma can be contacted should any companies which to sponser her with living and traveling expenses.
Article By: Joan Tinker
