She has scored tries in the green and gold all over the world, but that moment when Maria Tshiremba raced in for her first test try for the Springbok Women at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, was something she will never forget.
Tshiremba, who made her test debut, has seen it all in the sevens code, where she has scored 64 tries in 20 tournaments, but this was very special, she said afterwards: “I actually started celebrating before I even scored, I just could not help myself. The feeling of relief and joy was just so much.”
The 30-year-old speedster from Limpopo’s Vhembe region, who started her rugby career as a fifteen’s player for the Golden Lions Women in 2022, was soon spotted by the Springbok Women’s Sevens coaches and a year later, she played in her first HSBC SVNS tournament.
Her fifteens career continued though, with a move to the Isuzu Bulls Daisies giving her ample opportunities to showcase her talent. Tshiremba was drafted into the Springbok Women squad for the 2024 WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town, but did not play, but a full 2025/26 sevens season kept her busy.
With the HSBC SVNS season done, Tshiremba was selected for the tour to Fiji and can now proudly claim her Springbok Women status too. A hat-trick of tries in the second half of the test was another milestone, but that first try will be the one she will forever hold dear.
“The thanks must go to my teammates, who made the try possible and of course, my coaches for giving me this opportunity,” she said.
Given the fact that she only had five ball carries and scored three tries, showed her impact. In all, she made 81 running metres and had six defenders beaten. She also defended stoutly, making eight tackles in the match.
Tshiremba’s three tries made her the leading try scorer on tour, followed by Lindelwa Gwala, Vainah Ubisi, and Xoliswa Khuzwayo, all of whom scored two each. Gwala and Ubisi dotted down in each of the tests, while Khuzwayo got her double in the opener in Suva.
In the second test, Sizophila Solontsi was successful with all of her 19 tackle attempts, while Catha Jacobs completed 17 from 20, and Nomsa Mokwai 15 from 15.
Byrhandré Dolf, who scored a try and six conversions, was the leading points' scorer on tour (17), while Libbie Janse van Rensburg, who kicked a conversion in Suva, extended her points record for the Springbok Women to 221 points (14 tries, 56 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal).
The squad will return to South Africa on Monday evening and will re-assemble in Stellenbosch on 26 August to start preparations for their test against the Black Ferns in Soweto on 5 September, which forms part of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
© SA Rugby