RUGBY STAR MAKES SPRINGBOK DEBUT

BY JOSHUA HENDRICKS

I AM REALLY HONOURED TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN RUGBY. I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I MADE MY DEBUT AGAINST CANADA.

SHAUNIQUE HESS is only 24 years old but is already a rugby veteran, having started playing for Western Province at the age of 13. She recently made her international 15s debut for the Springbok women’s team, playing alongside erstwhile UWC netballer Danelle Lochner in the Test against Canada on 25 March in Madrid, Spain.

“I ATTENDED Strand High School. My school did not have a girls’ rugby team. But I have been playing for Western Province since I was 13 years old. I officially joined UWC Rugby in 2018, and I feel very honoured and privileged to do so.

“I won all the player of the tournament [awards] at the youth tournaments between 2014 and 2017 and also YTC tournament player of the year at UWC. In 2019, I won backline player of the year.

“IN 2020, I did a bridging course at UWC and now I’m studying Sport and Exercise Science. My expectation for this year is to help UWC to take their rugby to the next level and my goal is to also help establish a Varsity 15s team so that we can play in the Varsity Cup.”

GETTING TO THE ELITE LEVEL of women’s rugby requires a strong will, determination and dedication but the past winner of the Supersport Let’s Play Sport award had to dig even deeper to surmount the tremendous challenges she faced in her journey to the Springbok women’s team. Her faith and family were her biggest strengths at times. She says: “Like everybody else, I think finance was one of my biggest struggles, things like getting to training thrice a week and also having access to proper gym facilities.

“I MANAGED to get into the national Sevens training squad in 2017 and I messed up really badly disciplinewise, but I was only 17 at the time.

“TWO YEARS LATER, I fell pregnant and when that happened, nobody was willing to give me a chance in the professional setup. I struggled on until I was ready to give up on my dream of playing rugby.”

“I AM REALLY HONOURED to represent my country at the highest level in rugby. I was so excited when I made my debut against Canada,” says Shaunique. Unfortunately, the Boks suffered a red card in the sixth minute of their match and, with only 14 players on the field, were overwhelmed by the fourth-ranked Canadian team, going down 66–7. A week later, they won the second match of the tour, beating hosts Spain 35–20. Shaunique scored two tries in the match, her first points in the 15s format for the Springboks.

THE SPRINGBOK CENTRE says that she got down on her knees and asked God to direct her. At this point, she had to give up playing full-time and find a job so that she could provide for her daughter. Her parents and younger sister Bronisha’s support and belief in her kept her going in the next two seasons as motherhood impacted her rugby career.

HER CAREER GOT BACK ON TRACK in 2022 when she excelled while playing for Boland and earned an invitation to join the national training squad. “One of my mentors who has always fought for me, Mr Veldton, contacted me on 10 February and said that I was invited to the Springbok women’s 15s camp,” she says, adding that former Irish international and current SA Rugby high-performance manager for women, Lynne Cantwell, was also instrumental in opening the door.

THERE’S A VERY REAL PROSPECT that Shaunique could soon make history again, in a different way. Bronisha, who matriculated in 2022 and plans to study sports management, has matched her achievement by being recently invited to the Springbok training camp, also at 17. With a bit of luck, proud mom Bronwyn may soon see a Springbok match starring both her talented girls.

BY THE NUMBERS

13 YEARS OLD - Starts playing for Western Province

19 YEARS OLD - Officially joins UWC Rugby

25 MARCH 2023 - Makes her Springbok debut