bA ba lwa g o es b i g-ti m e

BABALWA GOES BIG-TIME UWC alumna becomes the first SA women's rugby player to turn pro

By Myolisi Gophe Image Supplied

UWC alumna Babalwa “The Beast” Latsha made history this year when she became the first South African women’s rugby player to turn professional. In January, Latsha signed for Spanish rugby club SD Eibar Femenino. After graduating from UWC with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) last year, Latsha marked her debut by scoring four tries as her new employers outclassed Murcia 96-0. The Springbok women’s rugby captain penned a contract with Eibar until the end of the 2019/20 season, with an option for renewal. She first impressed the Spanish scouts when she starred for the Boks as they took on Spain in Despatch during September 2019.

“This is a great opportunity to improve

8 Blue and Gold my craft as a player, engage with other cultures and be exposed to different ways of playing,” the Khayelitsha-born Latsha says. “The key thing is that I will be learning from my new teammates and be able to transfer that knowledge back home for the benefit of my fellow players and the team as a whole, so I can be more effective in the national team.”

Latsha, a big fan of former Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira, would like it to be the norm for SA female rugby players to become fully fledged professionals. “I think that women’s sports across the board can be supported more financially so that we are able to make a proper living out of a sport because we love it.”

The former footballer, who only started

playing rugby in 2014, aims to make good use of her LLB, particularly in rugby structures, for the advancement of women. But she’s placing that dream on hold for a short while as she focuses on her professional rugby career.

In true UWC fashion, Latsha has strong links with the community, which was evident when a large group of sportspeople and members of her church turned up at the airport to give her a memorable send-off. “To me, family and community are the most important things,” she says.

“The community of Khayelitsha, and Cape Town in general, are the people who have always encouraged me, who go watch me at the stadium and who are proud when they watch me on TV or read about me in newspapers. They have seen my downfalls and they have seen my successes, and I also partake in coaching in Khayelitsha to strengthen that relationship. I try by all means to be a positive influence on youngsters, to just be a shining light within my community.”

Latsha has thanked UWC and the South African Rugby Legends, Lwazi Mzozoyana in particular, for their support throughout her career. She has also called on young girls to never stop dreaming.

“Dream big because dreams do come true. But work hard towards that dream so when the opportunity comes, it finds you ready and fit in all aspects,” she says. “We grow up in disadvantaged communities where, statistically, we are bound to fail. But the key thing is to keep the hope alive that, one day, things will change.”