Six years ago, a bright-eyed Aphiwe Ngwevu travelled to England with the Springbok Women in what was the potential beginning of a long international career for the then 20-year-old.
The eager and hard-running centre from Border took it all in her stride and came back from her very first overseas trip more determined than ever that a career with the Springbok Women could be worth her while.
In 2019, Ngwevu earned a first Test cap in the Rugby Africa tournament, played in Johannesburg, coming off the bench against Uganda, Madagascar and Kenya as the Springbok Women secured qualification for the 2021 Rugby World Cup, played in 2022 in New Zealand.
Tests against the visiting Spanish and Scottish sides later that year not only earned Ngwevu her first starts in the Green and Gold but also confirmed to the head coach at the time, Stanley Raubenheimer, that her ability to get over the advantage line would indeed be that to his team, an advantage.
Then COVID struck and in Ngwevu's case, motherhood became a reality too, as she gave birth to a boy, Luphiwe. When rugby returned in 2021, she was recalled for a Test series against Kenya, but it was clear that she lacked conditioning and match fitness. Raubenheimer advised Ngwevu that she would only feature in his plans again if she became rugby-fit and conditioned.
Ngwevu responded spectacularly to the challenge and by the end of the 2022 season, not only added seven caps to her Test tally but also represented South Africa at the RWC in New Zealand, which was moved to 2022 due to the pandemic.
Come 2023, Ngwevu was again a first choice when Louis Koen, who had taken over as coach, named his squad for tests against Canada and Spain, which included a training session against Wales in London.
Once back home, disaster struck in April last year as Ngwevu injured her shoulder playing for the Border Ladies in the Women's Premier Division. Her road to recovery proved long and she missed out on the Africa Cup in Madagascar as well as WXV 2 played in South Africa.
“That was tough for me sitting out on those two tournaments,” she said.
“I want to establish myself as a first-choice player for the Springbok Women and I want my performances to attract the attention of overseas scouts. My ability to play rugby must also bring financial rewards, as I have a boy to look after.”
Following regular check-ups on her conditioning and two alignment camps, Ngwevu was named in the squad Koen assembled for their current tour to Scotland, Wales, Spain and England.
The Scotland leg is done, with a training session against the home union at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium something that proved inspiring to Ngwevu.
“It was great to be playing on the very same field the Springboks play and just being in the stadium was a nice experience,” she said. “Yes, rugby is a job for me which must put food on the table, but when it does allow for opportunities like that, you must embrace that too.”
The training session against Wales on Saturday will be another opportunity for the hard-running Ngwevu to show Koen that she has fully recovered from her injury.
"In my absence, players like Chumisa Qawe and Piwokhule Nyanda embraced their opportunities and they have played well,” she said in Swansea, where the team will depart from to Spain on Sunday.
“That is a good thing for me personally, as competition brings out the best of me. I feel that the game plan and style of play Coach Louis wants, fit my style of play like a glove and I am keen to show that.
“The test matches against Spain and the USA are both targets for me. I just want to get onto that field and run at outside shoulders all day.
“I have played 16 test matches (7 tries) and want to play in two more World Cups for the Springbok Women at least, and I would love to play abroad also. Sadly, there were three stops to my career already, but this time I am really hoping and praying that I will be able to play without interruptions.
This team is on the up and going places and I want to be part of that journey for the long haul.”
