Siphenathi Yeko was one of nine debutants in the squad that claimed a fifth consecutive Rugby Africa Cup title, and she made a strong case for more caps — five tries across the tournament, starting at fullback against Uganda before being handed the No.10 jersey against the hosts. The flyhalf role tested her, but conversations with Jakkie Cilliers and mentor Aschin Klein steadied her nerves. Yeko's path ran through Border U18s, the Titans Academy and stints at Boland and EP before finally earning her first call-up — a journey her Eastern Cape community had been waiting on. She hasn't made the cut for the USA series training squad, but her hunger is undimmed. The piece is a neat profile of a late bloomer with the versatility and mentality that Springbok Women coaches will want to keep on their radar.