01/10/2026
Dear Supporters,
It gives us great joy to congratulate Bionique (Nicky) Baatjies, one of our fans and the daughter of one of our stalwarts, Bramwell Baadjies, on her selection to the SA Rugby 2026 Under-16 Girls Elite Player Development (EPD) Squad.
Bionique is among the players identified during this year's FNB U16 Girls Week, where she enjoyed a very successful tournament. It is particularly noteworthy that Bionique is the only player selected from SWD. This is also a historic achievement for Smutsville, Sedgefield, as it marks a first for the community.
Bionique and all the players selected are currently attending the EPD camp at La Rochelle Girls' High School in Paarl from 26 September to 2 October 2026, where they are being exposed to a high-performance environment and working closely with national coaching, medical, and support personnel as part of SA Rugby's long-term player development strategy.
Nicky is currently enjoying her time at the EPD week and gaining valuable experience that will undoubtedly contribute to her development as a future Springbok Women’s player.
Geluk, Bionique! Gaan leer nog meer. Niks staan in jou pad nie. Ons is baie trots op jou. Geniet hierdie wonderlike geleentheid.
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