Springbok Women full back Byrhandré Dolf finished as South Africa’s top points scorer at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, playing a key role in the team’s record-breaking campaign.
The Springbok Women achieved their best-ever performance at the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, defeating Italy for the first time in history, and climbing to an all-time high of 10th on the World Rugby rankings.
Dolf contributed 27 points across four matches, including 12 conversions and a penalty goal, surpassing Zandile Nojoko’s previous Rugby World Cup record of 26 points. Remarkably, Dolf achieved this in just four matches, while Nojoko took 15 matches over three tournaments to reach her total.
Biggest ever World Cup win
The team also set a record for their biggest-ever World Cup win, beating Brazil 66-6 in their opening Pool D match. Dolf, playing at fullback and wing, covered 293 metres on counterattacks, earning the team award for most running metres, narrowly edging Nadine Roos, who recorded 290 metres.
Dolf explained how she became the team’s goal kicker: “Before our match against Brazil, coach Swys suggested that the three kickers – myself, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and Jakkie Cilliers – must have a kick-out to ensure whoever was striking the ball best on the day would kick in the match. The call came to me, and luckily I kicked well during the tournament.”
Another standout performer was number eight Aseza Hele, who scored South Africa’s first-ever hat-trick at a Women’s Rugby World Cup against Brazil and added another try against Italy. Hele’s four tries make her the highest try-scorer for South Africa in a single Women’s World Cup, with Roos (3) and Ayanda Malinga (3) now second on that list.
Overall, the Springbok Women scored 122 points – their highest ever at a World Cup – with 19 tries, while conceding 133 points, their lowest total at the tournament. They also recorded their best defensive performance, allowing just 21 tries.
Tackling stats highlighted the team’s improved defensive effort, with Sinazo Mcatshulwa leading the chart with 28 tackles, followed by Hele (24), Sizophila Solontsi (23), and Babalwa Latsha (23).
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