The Blue Bulls Company (BCCo) has confirmed the devastating news of the passing of Bulls Daisies captain, Lusanda Dumke.

The decorated loose forward died at the age of 28 following a battle with a rare gastric cancer.

Served as captain

Dumke served as captain of the Bulls Daisies from the franchise’s inception in 2023, leading the team to a historic three consecutive Women’s Premier Division titles, including the 2025 championship.

She made 31 appearances for the Daisies during her tenure.

Beyond her franchise success, Lusanda Dumke was a stalwart of the national team, earning 33 Test caps for the Springbok Women and captaining the national side on three occasions.

Tribute

Thando Manana, Head of High Performance and Special Projects at the Blue Bulls Company, offered a tribute to the late captain.

“Lusanda was more than a captain; she was the heartbeat of our Daisies team and a true inspiration to everyone at the Bulls and in South African sport.

“To achieve what she did by the age of 28, leading a team to a three-peat and captaining her country, is simply phenomenal.

“Her fight against cancer mirrored her toughness on the field; she fought till the end.

“Her legacy of resilience and success will forever define this era of women’s rugby in South Africa.

“We have lost a precious, rare gem, and our thoughts are with her family,” Thando Manana said.

Funeral arrangements will be made public by the family in due course.