Jakkie Cilliers

“I want to win awards and travel the world and be the best I can be. I want to be a role model and prove to people that South African women can play rugby at the highest level.”

“I want to be one of the best players in the world, I want to play overseas, probably in England and the PWR where I can test myself against the best.”

“It’s nice to be part of a professional group where you can just go out and have everything set up for you, but if I’m honest, there’s nothing that challenges you on game day.The biggest challenge comes in training. As an individual and as a team we’re not really tested on the weekend and that’s not good for us or for South African rugby. We need competition and the only way that can happen is if other teams invest like we have.”

“It won’t happen overnight, I’m not sure we can change a whole culture. There will be lots of people who will never support us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. If we start winning and challenging the really good teams.”

“When it happens I just smile and maybe just move on to something else. But it’s hard to hear. My parents stand behind me fully so I know that I have their support. So what other people think shouldn’t bother me. But it’s not nice to hear. I know that I’m not like a typical female. I’m built differently.”

“Some ugly perceptions about women and women’s rugby still exist in South Africa,To be honest, it’s a pain in the arse.”