For Mathrin Simmers home is where rugby takes her. At the age of 36 she is oldest member of the Team SA women’s sevens and also the most experienced. She is closing in on 100 matches for her country and could well reach that figure in the coming weeks.
Her permanent home is Stellenbosch, but for now it’s Montpellier in France. Soon it will be Paris, where the 2024 Olympics are being held.
It’s the first time that Team SA are sending a women’s sevens rugby squad to an Olympics, having qualified, but withdrawn, from both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Better late than never though for a player who has racked up the most points as well in the green and gold.
Suggesting that Team SA’s women’s sevens team is going to be a surprise package and win a medal at these Olympics is stretching things too far. They won, but they could well surprise you with the level of their performances in Paris.
“Look, we’re in a tough pool, we can’t dispute that. We have Australia in our pool, as well as Ireland and Great Britain. We’ve got a lot of strong ball runners and we’ve also assembled a squad that has got speed in it. Things will be tough, but we’re going to give it our best. Our message to our supporters back home will be that we’re going to be competitive and not leave anything out on the field. I don;t think I can ask for more from the girls as co-captain.”
MONTPELLIER, FRANCE – July 15: Mathrin Simmers of Team South Africa in a warm-up women’s Rugby 7s match against Australia at the GGL Stadium in Montpellier, France on Monday 15 July 2024.
(Photo by Roger Sedres/TeamSA)
Simmers has travelled the world and one of the first names on the team sheet. Until recently Canada was her second favourite place to visit, but her experience at the Vancouver leg of the 2024 SVNS Series in February wasn’t a memorable one. “There were some bad experiences, so in terms of that, I’d make Singapore my next favourite place outside of South Africa. It might be a bit hot and humid, but it’s also clean and green and that appeals to be. It’s a bit like Stellenbosch in many respects.” Although not the Stellenbosch of recent weeks in what has been a brutal Cape winter. She laughs. “Yes, not that Stellenbosch!”
MONTPELLIER, FRANCE – July 15: players of Team South Africa in a warm-up women’s Rugby 7s match against Australia at the GGL Stadium in Montpellier, France on Monday 15 July 2024.
(Photo by Roger Sedres/TeamSA)
She started playing rugby just over a decade ago and was part of the Springbok 15-player version before switching to sevens. Off the field she enjoys reading but is an avid rugby fan herself and is proud that she is able to represent a country at the Olympics that are the 15-man world champions.
“Obviously there’s a big difference between 15’s and sevens. Everything is different. In 15’s you’ve got the forwards and plenty of contact. In sevens there’s obviously only seven minutes a half, but there’s more stepping and stealing the ball. The fitness is a different kind of fitness,” she says.
Team SA’s women arrive in Paris ranked No12 in the world. Their pool opponents – Australia, Ireland and Great Britain – are Nos 5 and 10, while the latter is a thrown-together combination of England (No1), Scotland (no6) and Wales (No8). Despite them being a squad that will be unfamiliar with one another in a playing context, there’s enough quality to suggest they will be tough nuts to crack in the group.
With two blow-outs, against Brazil and Australia, already under the belt, Team SA are ready to pack up and head for Paris. Simmers will among those leading from the front.
Photos by Roger Sedres