Aseza Hele has been named in a 26-player Springbok Women squad that travels to Fiji this week for a historic two-Test tour, with the opening match against the Fijiana XV set down for the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
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 undergoing 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 2025.
Lindelwa Gwala, the most capped hooker in the group, also returns after recovering from a calf injury that halted her participation in the Africa Cup and the USA matches, while Patience Mokone and Zintle Mpupha, who both wore the national sevens jersey this year, come back into the squad as well.
Mpupha last played in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand’s Black Ferns, while Mokone featured in the 2025 Africa Cup.
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Babalwa Latsha captains the touring party, which will face the Fijiana XV again at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin has named two uncapped players, Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Maria Tshiremba, both of whom have switched codes after representing 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.
“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.”
Springbok Women Head Coach, Swys de Bruin
On his squad selections, De Bruin said Lamprecht and Tshiremba had shown 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.”
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The squad departs for Fiji on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. Springbok 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, as they did during 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
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
Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 24 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
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)
The 2026 Fijiana XV vs. Springbok Women Test Series
Sat 8 August, 04h00: Fijiana XV vs. Springbok Women at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
Sat 15 August, 05h00: Fijiana XV vs. Springbok Women at Churchill Park, Lautoka
All time CAT
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Aseza Hele returns to the Springbok Women squad for the first time since the Women’s Rugby World Cup, with Lindelwa Gwala also back from injury and uncapped duo Shiniqwa Lamprecht and Maria Tshiremba named for the historic two-Test tour to Fiji, which opens against the Fijiana XV at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday, 8 August 2026. Photo: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
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