Insaaf Makes History as First Medical Doctor to Play for Women’s Springboks

Imagine being so good at doing things that you study and graduate to become a qualified medical doctor while, at the same time, training and playing rugby at such a professional level that you qualify for the Women’s Springbok team. Well, her name is Insaaf Levy and yes, she has done all of these things. 

It was in May of 2023 that the 23 year old Insaaf made her Springbok debut against Madagascar at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. Not only did Insaaf qualify but she became the first qualified medical doctor to do so. The team went on to beat Kenya in the final match, securing their fifth consecutive title. 

Now, the Bo-Kaap born and bred Insaaf’s rugby skills is all about family. Her dad, Labeeb, is the current Stormers skills coach and Stormers XXIII head coach. Seeing how much she loved rugby, he began training her at the age of 7 by challenging her to throw 500 passes everyday after dinner. That is why she is so good at passing.
At that age, she also started playing touch rugby,  eventually representing South Africa at the Youth Touch World Cup in Malaysia and the Senior Touch World Cups in Malaysia and England. This was all before she graduated from high school. 

It was in university that Insaaf began playing contact rugby, having matriculated in 2019 and starting her first year of medical studies in 2020 at the University of Cape Town.
To become a doctor, you’d have to attend lectures, study and work in a hospital for up to 80 hours a week and yet, she managed to balance that with a professional career in rugby. Of course, it was not easy but everyone that knows her describes her as having incredible work ethic, discipline and the ability to thrive under pressure. 

Now, she isn’t just  good at medicine and rugby. While studying medicine, playing rugby and just being incredible, she also played netball, representing the Western Cape in the under 21 category. 

Of course, despite loving rugby, Insaaf has said that she will prioritise her career as a medical doctor. As a result, she will be completing her two year medical internship followed by one year of community service.