All Blacks, Wallabies, Boks players on Sables radar

THE Zimbabwe senior national rugby team has been on a rebuilding exercise in the past few months and results have started to show having won their first Rugby Africa Cup title in 12 years in Kampala, Uganda at the end of last month.

The Sables defied the odds at the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup and have set their eyes on booking their place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The Piet Benade-led Sables team seems to be on course to making history and their revival has attracted the attention of more expatriates who are said to be eyeing to help the team book their ticket Down Under.

At the Africa Cup, Zimbabwe welcomed back former Australia Under-20 flyhalf Ian Prior and the Sables’ new number 10 has since inspired other players of Zimbabwean descent to retrace their roots.

Three players of Zimbabwean roots are believed to be considering playing for the Sables ahead of next year’s Africa Cup which serves as the direct qualifier for the World Cup.

Zimbabwe has not played at the World Cup since 1991.

One capped Australia centre, Kyle Godwin, alongside another one capped All Blacks loose forward Gareth Evans are believed to be on the Sables radar as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) looks to bolster their team in their bid to qualify for the World Cup.

Ex Junior Springboks lock Eli Synman is also tipped to return to Zimbabwe.

According to Rugby Pass, the Zimbabwean born 32-year-old Godwin who plays his rugby for Lyon in France’s Top 14, is ready to commit, and would have made his Test debut for the Sables had his wedding not coincided with the Africa Cup in Uganda.

He got his Wallabies cap in 2016 against France but has, however, served the necessary stand down period under World Rugby’s birthright transfer ruling.

Meanwhile, Evans (born in New Zealand to a Zimbabwean mother) got his solitary All Blacks cap against Japan in 2018 and is yet to play for his Super Rugby Pacific side, Highlanders in two years.

The 28-year-old Harare-born Synman plays for Italian side Benetton Rugby team which competes in the United Rugby Championship, the European Rugby Challenge Cup and European Champions Cup.

Prior, who made his Sables debut against Uganda in the opening match of the Africa Cup told Rugby Pass that he has been in contact with Godwin whom he played with at Western Force and is willing to trek back to Zimbabwe.

The Sables’ new fly-half said their recent results will make it more appealing for other players to follow suit. He said they are on the right track to book their ticket to the World Cup in 2027.

“I have played with Kyle for a number of years over here (in Australia), I was at the Force with him and he is a quality human and a really class player. As far as I am aware, he is keen on playing for Zimbabwe and hopefully with the results we have got anyone who is eligible and interested will see there is some real potential to be able to create some history and try and qualify for the first World Cup since 1991.

“We’ve always tried to punch above our weight in Zimbabwe and I guess it makes it more appealing for guys that may be on the fence to see that we are on the right path, we have had a bit of success and the right people on the bus — both from a player point of view and a coaching and administration point of view,” said Prior.

Along the way to winning the Africa Cup, Zimbabwe also beat Namibia 32-10, their first victory over the Welwitschias in 23 years. The last time the Sables beat Namibia was in 2001 where they registered a hard fought 27-26 victory. It was in Bulawayo in July of that year when they last recorded victory over their neighbours.

The Sables had been the first African team at the first World Cup tournaments in 1987 and 1991 before Namibia overtook them. However, the current renaissance has rekindled the hope of appearance at the global showpiece.—@brandon_malvin