The Helderberg boasts numerous players including passionate woman rugger Fadia Abels and rugby talent Ronaldo Thyssen who will be flying the flag in green and gold at the International Tag Federation Tag Rugby World Cup in Coffs Harbour, Australia.

The pair will compete in the women’s and men’s open divisions at the fifth instalment of the premier international tag rugby event from Thursday 15 to 18 October.

Abels, a local coach and athlete, has been playing tag rugby for 10 years. She was invited to play a tournament with a few friends and fell in love with the game. Her positions are mid and sweeper, and what she enjoys most is the honesty of the sport of tag rugby, is that you can’t cheat, she says.

Before tag, she dabbled in 7s rugby and also swam competitively. She got her first big sponsor the same year she started the shorter format of the game, but injuries and her contract meant she couldn’t continue playing rugby – and at the time, women’s rugby wasn’t as big as it is now.

Abels also played provincial touch rugby (6 down) and made history in 2019 by being the only woman to feature in the professional beach touch rugby tournament, Hot Summer of Touch. Beyond her national tag-rugby achievements, she coaches children aged nine to 14 in Somerset West, focusing on skills and tactics while building confidence, teamwork, resilience and belief.

National pride

For Abels, representing her country for a second time is “a huge honour and privilege” that motivates her to keep pushing harder, not just for herself but for the young players who look up to her and everyone who believes in her.

“I have a massive support system – my special person, my family, friends, community, schools and every kid and parent I coach,” she shares. “This is not my first time and it will never feel the same as the last either. Every opportunity comes with its own challenges and goals. It’s always special; making myself and everyone proud is extra special.”

ALSO READ: Tag rugby coach off to World Cup

World Cup dreams 

In 2023 Abels captained the South African team at the Tag Rugby World Cup in Limerick, Ireland, leading them to a fifth-place finish in their category and bringing home the shield, a proud achievement for both her team and community.

Selection for the national side came about through qualifying competitions. Abels explains that there is a big tournament once a year called the Tag Premier League (TPL), where coaches choose a certain number of players to fill their squads, and eventually some players won’t make the final team.

When it comes to pre-match rituals, Abels keeps it simple – and squeaky clean! Her mandatory routine includes polishing her boots and taking a night-before shower, no matter how many times she’s already showered that day. Hey, superstition or not, cleanliness is key.

Reflecting on her training routine, Abels shares that she can do as many as 10 sessions a week.

On her goals for the World Cup, she says: “We are making history as soon as we play our first game as the first women’s team to represent South Africa. For the team I would love a top-five or top-eight finish.”

To young people in the Helderberg, particularly young women, who may be inspired to take up tag rugby, Abels’ message is: don’t wait, just start. It may open up opportunities and so many doors. She and her teammates have just received their national colours from the South African Rugby Union (SARU). Her advice comes with a reminder that “failing isn’t the falling down, it’s the staying down”, and one rule she lives by is “never give up”.

ALSO READ: Talented Fadia pushes boundaries to success

Fresh call-up

Thyssen expresses feeling “grateful and excited” to represent SA on the global stage, adding that the opportunity not only means a lot to him but also his family and community.

“It’s a huge honour doing it for the community and my country. It’s also a good feeling to show younger guys and girls from the community that it is possible,” he relates.

Thyssen has been playing tag rugby for about two years. A high-school friend started a team in September 2024 and asked if he’d like to play. He tried the sport, and the rest was history.

He plays link and wing, and enjoys how players need to evade a tag using the hips and how to create spaces for one another.

Thyssen started playing rugby at the beginning of primary school and has not stopped, featuring in the Western Province club rugby Northern and Southern leagues, and in 2024 he played in the City League, where he was part of a great bunch of guys who won the league. He then moved on to Super League A and is currently playing in Super League B for Macassar RFC, where he revels in the delight of the culture and brotherhood. He has also featured on the club rugby 7s circuit.

Macassar star 

His training entails a running session with two 2,4 km runs, short 10 m and 40 m sprints, and agility drills. He then moves into the gym to build strength and power while maintaining flexibility and mobility. Finally, he focuses on extra ball skills, such as long and short passing, catching techniques, and perfecting his catch-and-release speed.

When it comes to support, Thyssen says he has had a village – from coaches at the club, to family sitting alongside the field, to teammates encouraging him. Balancing his sporting career with his professional work has come with its own challenges. He works in a gym, so his schedule isn’t always ideal, and there have been times he’d swap shifts and work his way around practice sessions. He has also done extra jobs to help with transport costs to and from practices.

When it came to his selection for the national team, the wait was nerve-wracking. A tournament in last December served as the final trials, but a few days went by without word. Thyssen thought the silence from the selector meant hadn’t made the cut, but an email eventually confirmed he would wear the green and gold.

The news had him in a shock for a few days.

Asked whether he has any pre-match rituals or superstitions, Thyssen shares that he likes to sing certain songs depending on the mood for the day, loves to dance to music and, most importantly, to say a prayer.

On his goals for the World Cup, he says: “Personally, to be the best version of myself in any position I play and for the team to win the Tag World Cup.”

His words of wisdom for youngsters wanting to blaze a trail in the sport: “Give it a try and strive for greatness; you’ll never know where you could find yourself. Your upbringing doesn’t define your future, but your mindset and will to overcome does.”