South Africa vs. Ireland Women’s Rugby: Ireland Win 40–27 in Cape Town

Updated October 25, 2026: Ireland defeated South Africa 40–27 in the first of their two WXV Global Series Tests in Cape Town. The official Irish Rugby fixture page records the full-time score as South Africa Women 27, Ireland Women 40, with Ireland leading 21–17 at halftime. SA Rugby’s match report confirms the same result and says Ireland scored six tries to South Africa’s five.

South Africa vs. Ireland result and match details

The final was close at the break: Ireland held a four-point advantage, 21–17. The full-time margin was 13 points. SA Rugby’s official match report describes the result as 40–27 to Ireland and records six Irish tries against five for South Africa. The Irish Rugby fixture page presents the same score from the home team’s perspective, 27–40, and lists the halftime score as 17–21. Those are two score-order conventions for the same match, not different results.

The match was played at Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town on October 24. World Rugby’s official match center identifies the WXV 2026 fixture, the venue, and Jess Ling as referee. The Springboks match center listed kickoff for 3:00 p.m. in Cape Town. Irish Rugby listed a 2:00 p.m. Irish kickoff; Ireland was still on Irish Standard Time, UTC+01:00, that Saturday. Ireland’s official Citizens Information service dates the 2026 clock change to Sunday, October 25, so the matchday conversion is 1:00 p.m. UTC and 3:00 p.m. in Cape Town, SAST (UTC+02:00).

For the official result, see the Irish Rugby fixture page and SA Rugby’s match report. The World Rugby match center lists the match date, Athlone Sports Stadium, and referee. South Africa and Ireland are scheduled to meet again at the same venue on October 31.

Confirmed starting XVs

South Africa named Sizophila Solontsi as captain, with Sanelisiwe Charlie and Xoliswa Khuzwayo starting at prop. Ireland selected Erin King to captain the team. Neve Jones was named at hooker, and Irish Rugby’s team announcement said she was set to earn her 50th Test cap in the match. Both teams’ starting lineups were confirmed before kickoff; the lists above preserve the announced matchday selection.

Replacements

Team news and injury context

South Africa’s matchday squad reflected two injury absences announced before the Test. Babalwa Latsha was ruled out of both Ireland matches with an ankle injury, and Sizophila Solontsi took over the captaincy. Nombuyekezo Mdliki was unavailable for the opening match with a rib injury; Thandile Mazwi was named among the replacements in her place. The team announcement also named Yonela Ngxingolo on the bench and said she was in line to become the second Springbok Women player to reach 50 Test caps if she took the field. That was a pre-match milestone watch, not a statement about her appearance in this match.

Ireland’s matchday 23 was announced by head coach Scott Bemand. The starting pack included Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilís Cahill, Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, captain Erin King, and Brittany Hogan. The backline paired Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien at halfback, with Aoife Dalton and Anna McGann in midfield. Robyn O’Connor, Béibhinn Parsons, and Stacey Flood were selected across the back three. The Irish Rugby release also confirmed the replacements listed above.

The announced squads and injury updates also set the context for the return fixture. South Africa and Ireland are scheduled to meet again at Athlone Sports Stadium on Saturday, October 31. Supporters should check the official match centers for the final team sheets and kickoff details for that second Test.

Sources: Irish Rugby final score and match details; SA Rugby match report; World Rugby match center; Irish Rugby team announcement; SA Rugby South Africa team announcement; SA Rugby captaincy and injury announcement; Citizens Information on Ireland’s 2026 clock change.