Mandeni’s Mary Zulu (21) has solidified her place in the Springbok women’s team and now has her sights firmly set on future silverware.

A near lifelong resident of the Blessed Gérard Children’s Home in Mandeni after being taken in as a baby, Mary has trod an unusual path to national sports stardom.

She played a series of sports growing up but only discovered a passion for rugby as a young teenager.

Mary had played briefly at her school in Grade 4 but at that point no rugby was formally offered to girls.

“One day we were playing around on the field and Mr Clark [Hayne Clark, Children’s Home manager] was watching,” said Mary.

“He asked me if I had ever thought about playing more seriously. It had never even occurred to me, it brought a whole new picture into my mind.”

With Clark’s help she was soon able to join a local club and start training more regularly.

“I was finally able to play my very first game when I was 14 or 15, and even then I knew it was something I could fall in love with,” she said.

“Quite quickly I was selected to the KwaZulu-Natal U16 team and then afterwards the U18 too. That’s when I properly learned the game.”

After matriculating, Mary’s first priority was to continue her education and she began studying towards a sports science degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which she will finish this year.

But bigger rugby opportunities soon came knocking and after playing for the Sharks, she first earned national colours as part of the South African U20 team.

She impressed in her first international game against Zimbabwe and got a taste of the level which would be demanded of her going forward.

Later that year, in December 2022, she was selected to the senior Springbok women’s squad.

“It was mindblowing. I thought this must be a prank or something. I don’t know how many times I read that email because I couldn’t believe it.”

The first-choice Springbok flyhalf had picked up an injury and Mary was initially called in for cover as she can also play at centre and fullback alongside her preferred No 10 role.

But her performances in a series of matches since then, at tournaments in Madagascar and Spain, have confirmed her as an integral part of the national set-up.

Most recently she was part of the team that went unbeaten against Zimbabwe, Cameroon and Madagascar in the African Cup which earned them World Cup qualification for the tournament next year.

“It was incredible playing in the African Cup and now we are focused on World XVs in Cape Town in October.”

“Besides growing in the game of rugby, learning to communicate and being part of a team has helped me grow as a person too.”

Mary said she always thinks of the Children’s Home when running out in the green and gold.

“That’s who I play for, that’s my family. With their help and God’s guidance, that’s how I have ended up where I am today.”

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