Springbok Women back-rower Aseza Hele makes a powerful carry during national training following her return from a hand injury. Photo: Backpagepix
Springbok Women bruiser Aseza Hele has returned from injury to the senior women’s national team for their upcoming tour of Fiji in August.
The 31-year-old suffered a hand injury earlier this year, which required surgery, but on Tuesday morning was included in coach Swys de Bruin’s 26-player touring squad, indicating a return to full fitness.
The back-rower had a storming Women’s Rugby World Cup and was one of the standout performers during that tournament. She scored a hat-trick of tries against Brazil and helped the Bok Women to a historic quarter-final. Known for her immense physicality, Hele’s return is a massive boon for De Bruin and Co, and her presence was sorely missed during the recent two-match Test series against the US in South Africa.
In that series, shared 1-1 between the two nations, De Bruin relied on Logan Welman to pack down at the back of the scrum. Welman scored a brace of tries in the first Test against the US at Ellis Park, and played the full 160 minutes across both matches. The 20-year-old, however, has been dropped from the squad to be replaced by the vastly more experienced Hele.
