SPORTS FEATURE
THE SECRET IN
Her Sidestep
BY BYRON LUKAS
RIGHT BEFORE NADINE ROOS, THE SPRINGBOK WOMEN’ S STAR, PLANTS HER FOOT AND SLIPS THROUGH A GAP, THERE’ S A MOMENT THAT FEELS PLAYFUL, LIKE SHE’ S IN ON A SECRET THE DEFENDERS HAVEN’ T FIGURED OUT.
Nadine Roos’ s secret is that she was never meant to be just one thing. She’ s more than a rugby player, more than an athlete, and more than just a Springbok.
She is a force built from faith, discipline, and an unshakeable belief that talent is a gift meant to be worked for and given back.
“ Rugby chose me, not the other way around,” Roos says. Growing up, she was the sporty kid who could do it all, but the dream was simple and unwavering: represent South Africa in any sport that would give her the chance. That chance arrived in 2015, when she was scouted by the Tuks rugby( University of Pretoria) head coach.
“ He told me that the Seven’ s game is an Olympic sport, and that’ s where my mind clicked that I want to give this a shot and hopefully make my way to the Olympics.”
ROOS’ ACCOLADES
• SA Rugby Women’ s Player of the Year: 2022 and 2024 and 2025
• Springbok Women’ s Sevens Player of the Year 2025
• HSBC SVNS Dubai Player of the Tournament: January 2026
• Olympian: Member of the South African team at the 2024 Paris Olympics
• Represented SA at the 2025 Women’ s Rugby World Cup
Within a year, she was climbing through the ranks of the Springbok Women’ s Sevens system. The rest, as they say, is history. But Roos prefers to call it purpose.“ I will never look back and never change a thing.”
MOMENTS THAT MAKE A CAREER
Every athlete has moments that define them. For Roos, they come with sweat, tears, and the kind of joy that stays long after the final whistle.
Her debut on the HSBC World Series in 2016 still sparkles in her memory.“ Scoring a hat-trick
32 INBOUND SA / APRIL 2026