This week on She Speaks Sport, South African hockey powerhouse Tegan Fourie joins me for a conversation that goes far deeper than stats, trophies, or the number of caps on her name. Yes, she’s an African Games champion, a national indoor (81 Caps) and outdoor star (28 Caps), and a record-setting goalscorer who was named the SA indoor player of the year in 2024.. But behind the titles is a journey shaped by being part of a team and a love for hockey that found her long before she ever imagined becoming one of South Africa’s standout players.
Tegan takes us inside the story she shares with her sister Cerian — a five-year age gap erased by a shared dream of astroturf. From living together at university to stepping onto the turf as teammates, the Fourie sisters have built something rare: a bond that sharpens their game, fuels their competitiveness, and makes history every time they step onto the field together.
We explore Tegan’s formative years at Tuks, how its hockey program shaped her identity as a student-athlete, and why the team environment means more to her than any stat line. She reflects on the national team’s recent African Cup of Nations victory! Beating Ghana in the final, was a phenomenal feat after narrowly beating them in the group stages. This is the 8th African crown the women’s team have won, and their ultimate goal was realised when they secured the qualification for the FIH hockey world cup. Tegan unpacks the shifts, the play, the mindset, and the goal of qualifying for the world cup. November is world diabetes awareness month and at the heart of this episode lies in how Tegan plays the sport she loves while managing Type 1 diabetes, a condition she has lived with for 21 years. She speaks candidly about the discipline, vulnerability, and inner strength required to perform at an elite level while constantly balancing her health — and how her diagnosis has ultimately become a source of courage rather than limitation.
We also shine a spotlight on the future of women’s hockey, the need for visibility, investment, and the powerful role of community support. With the Nkosi Cup coming up in 3 weeks’ time, we get into the tournament and encourage the supporters to come out and witness the intense rivalry and competitive spirit between South Africa and Namibia. (The team has since been announced after our conversation and you can find the team names over on Instagram). This is a story about choosing joy, choosing resilience, and choosing to show up, again and again for the game and the people who make it worthwhile. Hit play and be inspired with Tegan Fourie, and we hope to see you at the Nkosi Cup this December!