Mcatshulwa, who played 32 Tests at flanker and three at lock (scoring 10 tries in the process) left Cape Town for Lille on Tuesday night determined to make most of the opportunity that was presented a couple of months ago.

The versatile forward travelled to France in 2019 as a member of the Springbok Women's Sevens team who won tournaments in Paris and Nancy, and again in 2021 with the Springbok Women, where they played against France in Vannes.

Mcatshulwa will celebrate her 28th birthday on December 24 and will spend Christmas away from loved ones this year, but that is all part and parcel of being a professional player, she acknowledged.

 She will be the first Springbok Women's player to play for a French club. Babalwa Latsha and Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women), Lindelwa Gwala (Ealing Trailfinders Women), Catha Jacobs (Leicester Tigers Women) and Amber Schonert (Sale Sharks Women) are current Springbok Women players in England.

--ChannelAfrica--