Bok star Roos to join Japanese club

Roos is looking forward to this chapter of her development as a professional rugby player.

“I am really excited about the opportunity afforded to me to join the club. If you look at their history, it is clear they are one of the most successful clubs in the country and are well respected,” she said.

Roos, 2022 My Players Women’s Player of the Year and nominee for the Springbok Women’s Player of the Year award, is the first female local player to sign for a Japanese club and follows in the footsteps of numerous of her male Bok counterparts who are plying their trade in the far Eastern country.

“For me personally, the different coaching structures, the culture and different rugby dynamics will help me develop further as an individual and player and that is something I am looking forward to” she added.

The Blue Angels contest the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Seven Series, where 12 clubs play in four tournaments over four months to determine a national champion, and Roos will join a number of Japanese national players, as well as other foreign imports in her stint. 

Blue Angels coach Paul Tietjens says Roos is a player that demonstrates real X-factor in the women’s sevens game.

“Her speed, footwork, handling, decision making and game management skills make her a real threat with ball in hand, while her aggressive attitude, competitive drive and tackle execution skills make her just as dangerous without the ball.

As a coach, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to coach Nadine and we are very happy to have her coming to NBA in 2023,” Tietjens said.

Roos will be the fourth Bok woman to play abroad. Catha Jacobs is currently with

Saracens, while Zintle Mpupha and Babalwa Latsha had stints in England and Spain respectively.