Mcatshulwa plays for Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole, 250 kilometers to the north, and while her trip only took two hours, “it felt like ages” before she could reunite with the team she last played for in October at WXV 2 in Cape Town.

“It was really nice to link up again and great to be back on tour with the group,” said Mcatshulwa, who has played in 35 Tests, including the previous Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The utility forward expressed satisfaction with her first season abroad and said she cannot wait to share some experiences gained in the French top division.

“The Rugby World Cup in England is creating a lot of excitement, also here in French rugby, as France are one of the favourites and with the Women’s Six Nations currently underway and them doing well, there is a good vibe,” she said.

“I am happy with my contributions this season, but for the next two weeks it is all about the Springbok Women and using this tour to enhance our chances in England in August.”

The Bok Women are playing France in their pool, with the two sides meeting at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton on 7 September, but the South Africans will have two training sessions against their hosts at the National Centre on Tuesday.

They will also play a match against an English team consisting of Under-20 and Under-23 players at the same venue on Saturday before departing to Alicante in Spain for a Test against the host union on 19 April.

“It will be good for us to train against France, as they are in the middle of their current campaign and will be full of speed and intensity, whilst we have not played together since the WXV. Also, as you can see, the weather is quite nice now to play rugby,” smiled Mcatshulwa, who enjoyed her first European winter in Lille.