Aseza Hele's rise fuels South Africa's first women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final

Aseza Hele's hat-trick against Brazil and a decisive try in the victory over Italy helped send South Africa's women's team into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, and the number eight has become a symbol of the side's rapid progress and wider hopes for the women's game in the country.

Hele, 30, received a message on social media from a young English fan before South Africa's final pool game against France asking to swap jerseys. She kept the shirt for him and met the boy after the match, a moment that reduced her to tears and underlined how far she has come from her upbringing in Port Elizabeth and an earlier life working as a cashier.

Hele said rugby "has changed my life," allowing her to support her family, buy a car and travel for the first time. She only began playing the sport in 2014 after attending a training session to maintain fitness for netball; an injury left a gap and she was advised simply to "just go forward." A first Springbok cap followed five years later and she made her first World Cup appearance in 2022.

South Africa, ranked 10th in the world, beat Italy 29-24 in York to advance from the pool stage, overturning expectations and marking a milestone for a team that still lacks the player pool, investment and infrastructure enjoyed by the men's side. The victory took on extra resonance because of off-field support from two-time men's World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, who has attended Springbok Women matches and publicly urged fans to back the women's game.

"He's the warmest and nicest person ever. He cares about us and wants us to have what they have," Hele said of Kolisi's backing. "His support has been massive for us. People came because he called them out on social media. From the bottom of our hearts, we love and appreciate him so much."

The Springbok Women will face four-time world champion New Zealand, the Black Ferns, at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 13. New Zealand arrive off a 40-0 win over Ireland and are bidding for a third consecutive World Cup, presenting a formidable challenge for South Africa.

Hele acknowledged the gulf between the sides but stressed belief within the squad. "They are the big dogs, and we are the underdogs. Anything can happen. A miracle can happen," she said. The team's stated objective entering the tournament had been to reach the quarter-finals; achieving that goal has already been framed as a success by players and staff.

Coaches and players have pointed to a growing domestic momentum and increased visibility for women's rugby in South Africa, though officials acknowledge structural gaps remain. The South African federation's efforts to capitalise on recent results will be judged against both short-term performance against elite nations and longer-term investment in player pathways and facilities.

Hele's journey from the streets of Port Elizabeth to a World Cup stage resonates beyond individual achievement. Raised by her grandmother in a neighbourhood that also produced men's captain Siya Kolisi, she said personal choices and rugby combined to transform her circumstances. "I didn't even dream of this, and now I'm playing with the big dogs, and I am the underdog," she said.

Hele has drawn attention for her physical running and scoring but describes herself as a "sweetheart" off the pitch. Her performances have not only provided moments of national pride but have also offered a visible example to young players — both girls and boys — of how sport can change life chances. Fans, teammates and officials will watch the clash with New Zealand to see whether that progress can be matched against the game's elite.