Yonela Ngxingolo will become only the second Springbok Women's player to earn 50 Test caps when South Africa face Ireland at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, following Nolusindiso Booi's achievement of the milestone. The 28-year-old Bulls Daisies prop has been named on the bench for the occasion, making her the first to reach the mark on home soil.
"Crazy," Ngxingolo said of the upcoming milestone. "I never thought I would make it at this age, at this time. I think the little Yonela is probably cheering from a distance, because that Yonela versus now, it's two different people. I really have grown mentally, physically, and also in terms of the game."
Ngxingolo, who hails from East London, came through the Border Bulldogs before breaking into the Springbok setup at 19. Age restrictions for props at international level delayed her Test debut by a year, with that first cap eventually coming against Wales in 2018. The story of how she secured it has stayed with her: given eight minutes in a pre-tour friendly against the Armed Forces with a spot in the Test squad on the line, she made enough of an impression to earn selection for the Wales match.
"One thing I told myself in those eight minutes is that you need to make use of it so that you can be seen," she recalled. "Fast forward, I got on in the second half when it started. And, to be honest, I was scared because I was 20 at the time. So, that taught me that every opportunity you get, you must use it because you never know whether you might get the chance in the next game or not. And I cried."
Ngxingolo has since represented South Africa at two Rugby World Cups, including the 2025 tournament in England where the Springbok Women reached the quarterfinals for the first time. While she was a regular starter earlier in her career, her ability to scrum on both sides of the scrum has established her as a key member of the "Blom Squad" — the team's impact bench unit.
"I never focus on the bigger picture of 50 caps, but it's always about consistency first and putting the team first," she said. "I'm just patting myself on the back, saying that you've been consistent and you've stayed in the fight, through thick and thin with this team."