Bok star Nadine Roos set to join Japanese club

Springbok Women and Springbok Women's Sevens star Nadine Roos will join Japanese club Nagato Blue Angels on a six month contract next season.

Roos becomes the first South African woman to sign for a Japanese club and follows in the footsteps of her Springbok male counterparts.

READ | Roos on Springbok Women's Sevens notable gap: 'We need to gain more experience' 

Roos is looking forward to the challenge as her contract gets under way January 2023.

"I am really excited about the opportunity afforded to me to join the club," said Roos in a SA Rugby press release

"If you look at their history, it is clear they are one of the most successful clubs in the country and are well respected.

"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."

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.

SA Rugby's High Performance Manager Lynne Cantwell says the move will benefit Roos, which will only have a positive effect on the national side.

"The club is in good standing and they have an excellent coaching set-up and I am confident that Nadine will grow as a player," said Cantwell.

"She is relatively young in rugby experience, so this will be a good experience for her. We want our players to be in demand from overseas clubs and hopefully this opens the door for other players as well. Nadine is such a dedicated athlete, we know she will represent us well and we wish her well."

Roos will be the fourth Springbok Women player to play abroad, which sees Catha Jacobs with Saracens, while Zintle Mpupha and