'You don't know how much you will miss that jersey': Aseza Hele celebrates Bok return

By SABC Sport
11th August 2026

Aseza Hele was delighted to make a successful return for the Springbok Women in their emphatic win over Fiji this past weekend after almost a year out injured.

The loose forward, who earned her 33rd Test cap, had been sidelined since last year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England after undergoing surgery on a hand injury.

Back in the green and gold, Hele made an immediate impact in their 55-12 win over the Fijians and is now looking forward to Saturday's second Test at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

"Yes, it was great being out there again," Hele said from Nadi, where the Springbok Women are based as they prepare for Saturday's second Test.

"Coming back from rehabilitation, one is not always hundred percent sure how the body will react in a match situation. So I was pleased the way it went, given that I did not play for a while.

"Once the match started, I felt really comfortable and I could just focus on doing my job out there, which was great. It felt great to get back in the physical part of the game and I felt like I was myself again, so very happy with that aspect of it."

Hele had 16 ball carries and made 127 metres, and her physicality was a menace to the Fijian defence.

"My fitness and conditioning was good - in these type of games you need to be at your best when it comes to fitness, so I am very happy the way it played out. There were some nerves at the beginning, but that is normal," she said.

Another feature of Hele's play, also came through in Suva - playing with a smile. And she had good reasons to do so.

"You don't know how much you will miss that jersey until it happens, but I just realised it again," she added.

"To be back in the team made the rehab worth the while. The mental side of the rehab is always the toughest. Patience is often a virtue as sometimes rehab has it ups and downs and for me it is 90% mental, 10% physical. So I am very pleased that I could be back doing what I love, playing for my country and inspiring others."

The team for the second Test will be named on Wednesday. The squad will be without Lerato Makua and Eloise Webb, who picked up injuries last week, but could be bolstered by the return of team captain, Babalwa Latsha.