South Africa is world-famous for its diversity. We are truly a rainbow nation filled with different people who have different views, but one thing is certain: we love rugby. Next year, Mzansi will kick off its first women’s professional rugby league, this goes to show how the sport has grown. Aseza Hele, Buhle Sonamzi, and Keisha Stuurman are prime examples of how far the sport can take women. All three were born in the Eastern Cape and started playing between 2013 and 2014. Now, 10 years later, they’re among those leading the pack in South African women’s rugby.
“Where I grew up, there was no other sport to play. A lady at our school introduced me to rugby, and I fell in love with it from there. At the time, I didn’t know it could take me this far,” said Sonamzi, who plays for the Boland Dames and was part of the South African 7s World Cup squad.
Hele, who captains the Boland Dames and played for Harlequins in the UK, adds, “Rugby has given me so many opportunities to see the world and meet new people. It’s also taught me the power of resilience and shown me how I can inspire a new generation of young female rugby players.”
One of the players who’ve been inspired by Hele’s career is Keisha Stuurman. Growing up in the small town of Darling in the Western Cape, Stuurman is the only prominent female rugby player from her area. Her star is quickly rising, and she has already represented the U20 Springboks.
“My biggest inspiration has been ‘Blommie’ (Hele’s nickname). Watching how she has been able to deal with a major injury and become one of the best players in the world has been truly inspirational for me. She’s also shown me that as girls who come from where we come from, we can stand out.”
A few years ago, Hele suffered a horrific injury that saw her tibia plateau ripped open. That should have been the end of her career, but it wasn’t. “The pain, both physically and mentally, was unbearable. There were times when I couldn’t do anything for myself, and that can be confidence-shattering. But I was so lucky to have a support system that believed in me and told me every day that I was strong,” explained Hele.
Growing and healing from an injury that nearly crippled her taught Hele a powerful lesson about life: ‘You’re only defeated when you think you’re defeated’. That is a lesson she has come to apply to her life and her sport. Another lesson learnt among the trio has been the importance of carrying the torch for others. For Sonamzi, that has meant being the one in her family to live her brother’s dream.
“My brother was always my biggest inspiration in life. He had all the opportunities to be in my position but was unable to take them due to a lot of personal difficulties. So, for me to be able to come out and play rugby at this level is my way of living his dream and mine,” she said.
For all three players, the key to helping other female rugby players live out their dreams is partnership. For years now, Boland Rugby has had fruitful partnerships with companies like Vuma, one of South Africa’s leading fibre network operators, which has allowed the team to bring players from all over the province together.
“These women are not just an inspiration to Boland; they’re an inspiration to every woman in the country who has a dream and who has had to overcome adversity. We’re proud to have been able to help connect these women, this community, and this sport.” Lianne Williams, Marketing Director at Vuma, concludes.