Another rugby fiesta in Zimbabwe

Under-19 tournament last year, Zimbabwe have been asked by the Confederation of African Rugby to stage this year’s edition of the tourney in the last week of August.
The tournament features Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and hosts Zimbabwe.

Rugby powerhouses South Africa do not take part in the tourney as they play in the first tier that largely features teams from Europe and the Oceania region.
Zimbabwe are the defending champions of the African Under-19 tournament that also serves as the qualifier for the Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament to be hosted by the United States in two months time.

Zimbabwe beat Namibia for the third time in a row last year to lift the title that gave them the ticket to represent Africa at the JWRT.
Initially, the Junior Africa Cup tournament was billed to be held in South Africa.
But that didn’t make sense since the Rainbow Nation’s junior national side does not take part in the regional tournament.

The week-long event is expected to take place at Prince Edward and will run from August 24 to September 1.
Prince Edward hosted the same tournament last year with the venue being chosen on the back of the school’s central location and impressive facilities.
The school also hosts the annual Cottco schools festival.
Jani said they were ready.

“Obviously I am delighted about us having to host the tournament both as Zimbabwe rugby and this means a lot for the Under-20 as a franchise.
“What this obviously means is that all the participating teams last year were happy with the way they were hosted and looked after.
“And this is a sign that we are slowly gaining back our rightful place as the second most powerful rugby nation in Africa (after South Africa),” said the former Sables winger.

Zimbabwe won the Junior Africa Cup last year and qualified for the JWRT and this was the third consecutive time that the Brighton Chivandire-coached side made it for the world stage.

“Giving the tournament back to Zimbabwe is a pleasure for us and I believe it was moved back here due to the instability in northern Africa so Zimbabwe was the best pace,” said Jani.
“I don’t know why the tournament was to be hosted in South Africa in the first place because they do not take part in the Africa Cup and effectively would not be playing in these games.

“We have gone back to 2011 and we looked at what we did right and also looked at the areas that we did not manage to do so well so we know the areas we need to correct and improve on.
“Teams are expected in for the tournament from August 24 with the departure date set for the second of September.”

Jean-Luc Barthes, who is the IRB regional development manager for Africa, praised the local organising committee for successfully hosting the annual junior rugby tournament.

“I do not see any reason why Zimbabwe would fail to host the JWRT itself because that tournament also has eight teams and the standard of hosting they showed us this year is great,” said Barthes.