Mature Boland ready to shock rugby world – Hele

Managing to reach a top-tier final of South African provincial women’s rugby for the first time has probably been Aseza Hele’s ‘easiest’ campaign as Sanlam Boland Dames captain.

The Dames make the trip to Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria to face the Isuzu Bulls Daisies in the Pick ’n Pay Women’s Super League 1 final. A competition that was previously known as the Women’s Premier Division.

Since 2019, after winning the 2018 Women’s First Division (now known as the Pick ‘n Pay Women’s Super League 2) and getting promoted to the top tier, the Dames have been making steady progress as a powerhouse of women’s rugby.

During the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, which still played over a double round of 14 league fixtures, the Dames reached the semi-finals on both occasions.

In 2025, the competition was reduced to seven league games to make room for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and no semi-finals were played as the top two teams on the log standings qualified for the final.

Seeing Hele and her team narrowly miss out on a finals spot after going down 29-32 to Western Province (WP) Ladies in their final league game.

But this season, Hele says her teammates have reached a level of maturity that has been the driving force behind reaching their first-ever top-tier final.

“What has pleased me the most is that they made it easy for me as their leader to lead them,” said the barnstorming Springbok Women’s loose forward, affectionately known as Blommie, ahead of Saturday’s clash.

“And as a team, it’s what has pleased me was the consistency of the team. Playing great rugby, new raw players showing up … showing that they have heart and they are hungry to go and win this competition.”

However, the challenge ahead of the Dames seems daunting, as they face a team that has not lost a Women’s Super League game since 25 May 2024. WP Ladies bested the Bulls by 22-10 in Cape Town.

“Look, we have been the underdogs in this competition for many years now and we like it that way, Hele says of facing a Daisies team loaded with Springbok Women Test-capped players.

“In most cases, underdogs are taken for granted and then that is when we get presented with a fantastic opportunity to go out and shock the world.”

Hele says there will also be no love lost when she comes up against her Bok Women teammates.

“Look, they are my teammates, I know them very well … but we as a team are up for this huge challenge.”

Getting to play in this final means so much to us. It is truly special and something we have been working hard towards since last year already. For some of our players, it will be our first-ever finals.”

Isuzu Bulls Daisies v Sanlam Boland Dames - Saturday @ Loftus Versfeld (11am)

Referee: Giana Viljoen

Assistant referees: Siyanda Pikoli, Chante Olivier

Broadcast: SuperSport Variety 1 (channel 206)

Isuzu Bulls Daisies starting XV: 15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Shaunique Alexander, 13 Zintle Mpupha, 12 Naima Hlatswayo, 11 Thobile Msizazwe; 10 Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Unam Tose; 8 Sophy Mashapa, 7 Anathi Qolo (capt), 6 Sizophila Solontsi; 5 Vainah Ubisi, 4 Dineo Ndhlovu; 3 Azisa Mkiva, 2 Doreen Mkhabele, 1 Yonela Ngxingolo. Replacements: 16 Xolelwa Diliza, 17 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 18 Lebogang Ralebona, 19 Sinelitha Noxeke, 20 Faith Tshauke, 21 Camelitha Malone, 22 Jakkie Cilliers, 23 Noxolo Magasela.

Sanlam Boland Dames starting XV: 15 Chloe Adams, 14 Arthea King, 13 Veroeshka Grain, 12 Rufaro Tagarira, 11 Sinalo Ziqwayi; 10 Eloise Webb, 9 Felecia Jacobs; 8 Aseza Hele (capt), 7 Ropha Madyah, 6 Buhle Sonamzi; 5 Thandi Masuku, 4 Mihlali Mgweba; 3 Onako Jita, 2 Keishia Stuurman, 1 Yola Lumko. Replacements: 16 Maxene Valentine, 17 Zena Swart, 18 Carolishia Fisher, 19 Nompumelelo Mathe, 20 Funeka (TJ) Ngxowa, 21 Zintle Nonkasana,22 Luleka Tyibilika, 23 Tereska Kabuka.