A Durban University of Technology (DUT) Rugby star, Anele Ngubane is proud of herself for managing to find a balance between her rugby journey and her academics. She graduated with her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Diagnostic Radiography at the DUT Autumn Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive Convention Centre on Friday, 22 May 2026
Anele (22) from Pietermaritzburg successfully completed her degree while simultaneously building an impressive rugby journey that saw her represent KwaZulu-Natal at provincial level and earn a selection for the Sharks senior team.
Reflecting on her academic journey at DUT, Anele described Diagnostic Radiography as both demanding and rewarding.
“It’s been a journey with practicals, assessments, and research, but at least I was studying something I’m passionate about,” she said.
Sharing her passion for rugby, Anele revealed that she only began playing rugby after arriving at DUT, where she quickly developed into a talented flank player in positions six and seven. Her growth in the sport opened doors to provincial rugby and strengthened her love for the game.
Balancing academics and sport, however, came with sacrifices for Anele. She said: “Balancing sport and my course was challenging. There were many sleepless nights and moments of fatigue, but I was doing what I loved, so I was okay with that,” she explained.
In 2024, Anele’s rugby career faced a major setback after she suffered an ACL injury that required two surgeries. The injury forced her to temporarily step away from playing, resulting in what she described as a difficult emotional period.
“Perhaps what I struggled with most was sports depression and not being able to recover well enough. But I had a good support system. My coaches, family, and friends were always there to help,” she shared.
Rather than distancing herself from the sport, Anele transitioned into leadership and management roles. In 2025, she became the manager of the DUT Women’s Rugby Team, bringing valuable experience and insight to the role after obtaining her Level 1 Rugby Coaching Certificate. She also contributed to rugby development initiatives through coaching programmes with the eThekwini Municipality.
“Although it was a painful transition from player to manager, I still enjoyed being around rugby and contributing to the growth of others,” she said.
Anele takes pride in the achievements of the DUT rugby programme, which secured the number one spot in the Premier League for two consecutive years, one while she was a player and another while she served in management.
“Seeing the growth of the team and being part of that journey in different capacities made me really proud,” she added.
Currently completing her community service in Limpopo, Anele has returned to playing rugby and says being back on the field has reaffirmed her love for the sport.
Academically, Anele remains ambitious, she plans to further her studies and specialise in mammography, CT scans, and MRI, with a particular passion for CT imaging. She also hopes to take advantage of new specialisation opportunities recently introduced at DUT.
Pictured: Anele Ngubane at her graduation.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.
Simangele Zuma
