SPORTS FEATURE in my first game coming off the bench” was the kind of introduction most players only dream about. Then came 2025 when the Springbok Women defeated Italy at the Rugby World Cup.“ You realise there is one opportunity to extend your ticket in this format and it was to win that... the relief after the game that we’ ve done it, we are through to a Quarterfinal for the first time ever and created history, it’ s a sense of pride.”
She’ s quick to credit Sevens for shaping her, both as a player and as a person.“ I will always say and give credit to the Seven’ s system as that is where my rugby career started, and it’ s given me so much in my career and helped me shape as a human being.”
BUILT DIFFERENT
Roos isn’ t just a rugby player, she’ s a multi-sport machine. Athletics, CrossFit, and rugby have all shaped her athletic DNA. Few people know that she represented South Africa at the CrossFit Games in 2021, and she wears that achievement quietly, as part of a bigger philosophy.
“ Being able to live out my God-given natural talent has been a massive honour and privilege. Sport is my passion, and I’ ve been given the gift, but what I do with it is up to me – and that’ s how I give it back to God.”
Her mindset is relentless.“ Your natural talents only get you so far, but it won’ t give you success. Success comes through doing the things when no one is watching, showing discipline, grit, determination and dedication.”
THE STATE OF THE GAME
Women’ s rugby in South Africa is growing, but Roos doesn’ t sugar-coat the challenges.“ Women’ s rugby is growing in South Africa a bit slower than the men’ s game.”
She believes structures are the missing link.“ If a management consists of 6-7 personnel of international standards, the quality and standards of each individual player will improve.” The benchmark is clear: England, New Zealand, Canada, and France.
Financial disparities remain stark.“ It is not close to what some of the men earn, and it will take a lot of time still, but we do the same on a training field and we play just as hard.” Sponsorship is scarce, development pathways for girls are limited, and even logistics can be a barrier.“ When national players go home over holidays, they struggle to train … gyms are normally far from their homes, so travel times are long as they need to use public transport like taxis etc.”
Yet, her tone isn’ t bitter – it’ s determined. The talent is there.
INSIDE A SPRINGBOK WEEK
The Springbok Women’ s Sevens programme is a full-time grind.“ We train Monday to Friday with Wednesdays and weekends off – a training schedule is packed, and we start at 7am and finish around 3-4pm.”
Recovery is sacred: pool sessions, Normatec, mobility, sauna. Then comes the film study – daily footage to dissect, improve, and refine. For Roos, performance is a lifestyle, not a phase.
APRIL 2026 / INBOUND SA 33