When she was at high school, University of the Western Cape (UWC) student Asiphe Mayaba decided to play rugby just out of curiosity. One by one, her friends dropped out, and she was the only girl left among the boys.

But she continued because she fell in love with the sport. It helped that she was so good at it. So good that she was called up to the senior national women's rugby team, Springbok Women, a few weeks ago for their recent European tour.

While Mayaba did not play in the two matches in Spain in March/April, she did not disappoint when making her senior international bow during the recent Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Madagascar. The 20-year-old scored five tries in the two Test matches she played against Cameroon and Madagascar to help coach Louis Koen's charges claim trophy.

"It was an amazing experience because I met players I was looking up to that I only saw on TV. Moreover, I got to experience travelling overseas, which was so nice," the first-year BA student recalled. 

For Mayaba, the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of UWC alumnae and Springbok Women - Babalwa Latsha and Nosipho Poswa - means the world. 

"It has been a thing that I was always dreaming of. Now that I have the opportunity, I am very happy," said Mayaba, who credits coach Mthuthuzeli Madikane for inspiring her.

Mayaba was first selected to the national Under-19 and Under-20 Junior Springbok sides last year. Then this year, she was invited to join the camp and train with the senior Springboks side.

Mayaba, a former learner at Sobambisana Primary School and Usasazo Secondary School in Khayelitsha, remembers being the only girl among the boys playing rugby in 2019. 

"It was great, but sometimes I felt embarrassed that I was the only girl playing rugby with boys in my school…But I continued because I enjoyed rugby. Nothing could stop me from playing it."

The winger, who possesses incredible speed and skills, has sometimes found it difficult to balance the sport she loves and her academic work. 

"I plan my training days and my studying days very carefully. Sometimes it is tough to be behind with my school work, but I always ensure I catch up." 

UWC rugby manager, Clement Trout, congratulated Mayaba for her selection to the Springbok Women's team. He said it is a good reflection on the University’s rugby.

"It shows we have quality players who come to UWC to play and study here. It is always good for them to gain international experience that they can feed to other players. Hopefully, we can have more Asiphes going forward,” said Trout.
 

Images courtesy SA Rugby Media