Aseza Hele has been included in the Springbok Women tour squad of 26 players that will travel to Fiji this week for a historic tour where they will face the Fijiana XV in two Tests, on 8 and 15 August in Suva and Lautoka.
The experienced No 8 missed both the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in May and the two-Test series against the USA Women’s Eagles earlier this month after having hand surgery, but she has been cleared to play and returns to the squad for the first time since her stellar Women’s Rugby World Cup performances in September last year.
Lindelwa Gwala, the most capped hooker, is also back in the squad after recovering from a calf injury that halted her participation in the Africa Cup and USA matches, while Patience Mokone and Zintle Mpupha, who also donned the national sevens jersey this year, also return to the squad.
Mpupha last played in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, while Mokone played in the 2025 Africa Cup.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has included two uncapped players in the squad, in Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Maria Tshiremba, with both jumping codes, having played for the Springbok Women’s Sevens this year.
A group of players who form part of the wider squad for the 2026 season will remain at their Stellenbosch base during the tour for strength and conditioning rehabilitation, including Sanelisiwe Charlie, Micke Gunter, Danelle Lochner, Logan Welman, Unam Tose, Jakkie Cilliers, Ayanda Malinga, and Aphiwe Ngwevu, who were all involved in the USA series.
De Bruin said: “This will be a challenging trip, but for us in 2026, it is all about pushing beyond comfort zones and in this case, time zones. It is a long way to travel, but in the wider plan, that is what we will have to do when the next World Cup is played in Australia too.”
On his squad selections, De Bruin said Lamprecht and Tshiremba showed their fifteens skills in the Pick n Pay Women’s Super League in the past: “Both played well on the sevens circuit this year, so I am excited to see their skill set enhancing our style of play.
“Also, Aseza and Lindelwa bring so much experience, which will be needed as we are without some experienced players currently in the rehab programme.”
The squad will depart for Fiji on Wednesday. Bok Women assistant coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September will take charge of the touring squad on this trip, while De Bruin remains in Stellenbosch to work with the extended squad, like they did with the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Kenya earlier this year.
Springbok Women squad to Fiji:
Forwards (15):
Babalwa Latsha (captain, DHL Western Province) – 42 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 12 caps, 0 points
Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 44 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 13 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Thandile Mazwi (DHL Western Province) – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 38 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 8 caps, 0 points
Nomsa Mokwai (DHL Western Province) – 17 caps, 0 points
Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Nobuhle Mjwara (Sharks Women) – 6 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 28 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Sizophila Solontsi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
Lerato Makua (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 20 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 32 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
Sinelitha Noxeke (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 7 caps, 0 points
Backs (11):
Anacadia Minnaar (EP Queens) – 6 caps, 3 points (1 penalty goal)
Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 11 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Libbie Janse van Rensburg (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 32 caps, 219 points (14 tries, 55 conversions, 12 penalty goals, 1 drop goal)
Eloise Webb (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 22 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) – uncapped
Zintle Mpupha (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 106 points (20 tries, 3 conversions)
Patience Mokone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 3 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 8 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Maria Tshiremba (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – uncapped
Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 7 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
Byrhandré Dolf (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 27 caps, 64 points (7 tries, 13 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
Fixtures:
Fijiana XV v Springbok Women
Date: 8 August
Venue: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
SA time: 04h00 (14h00 Fiji time)
Fijiana XV v Springbok Women
Date: 15 August
Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka
SA time: 05h00 (15h00 Fiji time)
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