President of SA Rugby Mark Alexander paid tribute to former Springbok Women captain Lusanda Dumke, who passed away in East London in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a battle with a rare gastric cancer. She was 29.
Dumke, SA Rugby’s Women’s Rugby Player of the Year in 2022, played 33 tests and captained South Africa three times. She also represented the Springbok Women’s Sevens team in her career.
“Lusanda will be remembered not only as a former captain of our Springbok Women's team, but also as a symbol of courage, leadership, and resilience far beyond her years,” said Alexander.
“She played the game with heart and humility, always giving everything she had for her team. Her work ethic, toughness, and selfless commitment set the standard, and she led by example every time she stepped onto the field.
“Even in the face of immense personal challenge, she carried herself with dignity and strength, inspiring those around her on and off the field. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the example she set, and the pride with which she represented her team and country.
“On behalf of SA Rugby, we extend our deepest condolences to the Dumke family, loved ones, friends, and teammates on the sad passing of Lusanda. Losing someone so young to cancer is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with all who loved and supported her through his journey. May you find strength, comfort, and peace during this difficult time.”
Born on 11 September 1996, Dumke made her provincial debut for the Border Ladies in 2015 as an 18-year-old. Her test debut followed three years later, in 2018 against Wales in Cardiff.
She became a regular fixture in the Bok team and captained the side for the first time in 2021, against Kenya in a two-test series in Stellenbosch. She also captained the side against Australia in 2024.
In 2022, Dumke was a member of the Springbok Women's squad that participated in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where she played in all three pool matches, France, Fiji and England. Her last test was against Italy in WXV 2 in Cape Town in 2024. She scored 10 tries in her test career.
Dumke’s skills and vision made her a natural fit for sevens rugby, and she represented the Springbok Women’s Sevens team in Cape Town in 2019. In 2022, she also played in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup in Tunisia, where South Africa defended their continental title, as well as the Cape Town event.
At provincial level, Dumke captained Border as well as the Isuzu Bulls Daisies to provincial titles.