Kayla Swarts, sister of the 400m world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, Wayde van Niekerk, has been included in the team.

Kayla, who matriculated at Eunice Girls' School last year, has been included in the squad, while the teenage sensation who attends the same school, Taheera Augousti, will also be traveling.

Swarts hails from a family of serious athletes and just like her older and more famous brother, she excelled in track events at school, especially in the 400m and 100m.

It's not the first time a national hockey player has an older brother who has excelled on international sporting fields. One of the more recent examples is Shelly Jones (née Russell), who is the younger sister of the former Springbok utility back, Brent Russell. Jones represented South Africa in 276 Tests and competed in the 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Olympic Games.

Augousti is currently a grade 11 learner at the school in Bloemfontein and has already proven herself at provincial and junior international levels.

South Africa will face Japan on 11 December 2022 in their opening match. This will be followed by Tests against Chile and India.

South African squad - Anelle van Deventer, Antonette Louw, Bianca Wood, Charné Maddocks, Erin Christie (co-captain), Hanna Pearce, Jean-Leigh du Toit, Kayla Swarts, Kirsty Adams, Kristen Paton, Marlise van Tonder, Ntsopa Mokoena, Onthatile Zulu, Quanita Bobbs (co-captain), Stephanie Botha, Taheera Augousti, Tarryn Lombard.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport