Ernie Els daughter makes winning Springbok Women's Rugby Team debut
Samantha Els, daughter of four-time major champion Ernie Els, made her Springbok Women's Team debut on Tuesday.
Tiger Woods' young cub Charlie Woods might be hitting the headlines as a rising star right now, but so too is Ernie Els' daughter Samantha, who made a winning Spingbok Women's team debut on Tuesday September 19.
Woods and Els shared many battles between them in their prime on the PGA Tour in the late 90s and 00s.
Samantha's Sprinbok Women team won 22-17 against San Clemente Rhions in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon.
Els' daughter was handed the No.5 jersey in her favoured lock position.
Samantha, 24, also plays for New York Rugby Club and she recently completed her studies at Stanford University, which is also where Tiger Woods attended.
Father Els is a four-time major champion thanks to two victories at the US Open (1994, 1997) and The Open (2002, 2012).
Els took to Instagram to praise his daughter Sam for her debut in the international team:
"We're so proud of your journey and now you're the first in the family to wear the Sprinboks colours," wrote Els.
"Live every day, a dream for Samantha."
South African rugby legend Bryan Habana commented on the post:
"This is incredible!!! Congratulations Sam."
Samantha will hope to have done enough in the final friendly match before coach Louis Koen selects his final squad for the WXV2 Tournament in Cape Town next month.
Samantha Els, the daughter of South African golfing legend @TheBig_Easy, will today make her debut for the @WomenBoks https://t.co/f7hk7ZKxwl pic.twitter.com/ji2u5gDsxX
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) September 19, 2023
The Springbok Women’s team in full:
15. Mary Zulu
14. Maceala Samboya
13. Veroeshka Grain
12. Chuma Qawe
11. Jakkie Cilliers
10. Lara Schats
9. Unam Tose
8. Yolanda Ntibane
7. Sinelitha Noxeke
6. Lerato Makua
5. Samantha Els
4. Nolusindiso Booi (captain)
3. Amber Schonert
2. Luchell Hanekom
1. Xoliswa Khuzwayo
Replacements:
16. Micke Gunter
17. Asithandile Ntoyanto
18. Yonela Ngxingolo
19. Vainah Ubisi
20. Nompumelelo Mathe
21. Rumandi Potgieter
22. Libbie Janse van Rensburg
23. Piwokuhle Nyanda
