WHEN the Women’s Rugby World Cup began in Exeter, England, the electric atmosphere was not driven by just cheers and applause, poetry also took centre stage. Raw, emotive verse echoed through the stadium as part of a unique celebration of sport and identity. Among the international voices featured was Montclair’s own poet, Fikile Simelane.

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Simelane was selected as one of the 15 poets from across the world for the poetry scrum, an innovative worldwide project bringing together rugby and poetry. Commissioned by UNESCO City of Literature Exeter, the project invited poets from across the world to submit poetry inspired by the topic of rugby and women’s identity. Simelane’s work, shaped by her life and artistic journey, now extends to audiences around the globe, far beyond her home town.

Her entry for the Poetry Scrum echoes the same themes of resilience and identity, likening the physical toughness of athletes to the inner strength of women. Her poem was displayed on big screens throughout the tournament, which ran from August 22 to September 27.

For Simelane, the honour is profound. “I am greatly honoured and pleased to be able to stand for other women, my people and fellow authors. It is an opportunity to spread a good message of identity and creativity. It is an opportunity to stand for the richness of being a woman,” said Simelane.

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Her path to this moment has been unconventional. From an early age, Simelane found comfort in books, pouring her thoughts onto pages and weaving them into tales that would ultimately develop into published books. She released I Lived by Not Living in 2020 and Healing the Wounds in 2021. Her new poem collection, 28 Days: Love Has No Colour, reflects her increasing voice and the way poetry has turned into a natural extension of being a witness to life.

“I draw inspiration from life, from experience, and from what people go through on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

But for Simelane, it’s not just about the recognition, it’s about momentum. “This has given my writing career and my books fabulous exposure. I hope to be able to also leverage it as a springboard to organise book launch readings and writing workshops,” she said.

Apart from poetry, Simelane wears many hats, entrepreneur, certified facilitator and assessor, actress, model, and a devoted woman of faith. Each role, she added, is within her purpose to live intentionally and to inspire others.

Through her inspiring words and accomplishments, Simelane has not only propelled her career to new levels but also made the Montclair community proud.

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