The Tukswomen Rugby 7s team finished third, winning bronze at the recent 2023 World University Rugby Invitational Tournament in Bordeaux, France.

Riaan van der Merwe (TuksWomens Rugby 7s head coach) sees it as one of his team's gutsiest performances especially as some of the biggest challenges the "girls" faced were not between the white lines of the field. The team's campaign nearly got derailed before it started because of logistical issues.

"Three days before the "World Champs" started, we played the USSA Rugby 7s in Kimberley. We lost 10-7 against NWU in the final. That same day, we flew out to France.

"As luck would have it, our flight plan was changed midair due to logistical issues. From then on, everything started going wrong. We missed our flight from Paris to Bordeaux. It meant we had to travel by train. The team got split. Only seven players arrived to play the first three games. I and the rest of the team came a day later. In light of this, I am proud of how the girls regrouped and got focused. With a bit of luck, we could have played the final."

On the first day, Tuks lost 25-5 against New Zealand's National University team. They then beat the University of Seville 19-12 but lost 17-12 against the University of Mexico. According to Van der Merwe, expecting seven players to play three games on one day was a tall ask.

"On day two, we lost 14-12 against the University of Bordeaux. It is a game we should have won. We scored a brilliant try that put us in the lead. But then a spectator called the ref and told her the try scorer had stepped out. It led to the ref disallowing the try.

"In our next game, we outplayed the Mauritius National Student team, winning 43-7. There was no respite for us. After the match, the players had time to have one drink before playing the New Zealand team in the semifinals. In contrast to us, the New Zealanders were well rested.

"Shakira Mamphoke scored the first try in the game. It was a brilliant effort. She got the ball on our try line and then weaved through the New Zealand defence to score. That was it for us. The players 'wheels' came off as it was the third game on the trot they had to play. New Zealand won 32-5.

"In the playoffs for third place, we beat Seville 28-5. Credit should go to Thandeka Shongwe. As captain, she led from the front throughout the tournament. Her heroics prove that hard work does pay off.

"She has been part of the team set-up for some time but never really got the opportunity to tour. She did not let herself get discouraged. It actually motivated him to work harder to hone her skills to perfection. Even the New Zealanders were impressed. She was given a complete New Zealand rugby kit at the prize-giving ceremony."

According to Van der Merwe, Mamphoke impressed him with the way she continuously found ways to outfox the defenders. She ended up being Tuks's top try scorer.