adminSports Correspondent
THE annual Dairiboard Schools Rugby Festival gets underway on Monday as Mutare Boys’ High first team is aiming at a flawless performance at this year’s edition of the exciting contest.
The six-day tournament which is the biggest schools rugby event in the country runs until Saturday.
The Shumbas, as Mutare Boys’ High are affectionately known, defeated Mutare Sports Club Under-21 side 8-7 last Saturday in a curtain raising encounter played before the Harare National Rugby League match that pitted MSC and Old Johanians.
Although it was a narrow victory, the Under-19 side proved to be a tough-side this year with some of its brilliant new players showing great potential to make the cut for the junior U-19 national team draft.
MBHS coach, George Mufute, said he was confident that his new squad would deliver and was also eyeing a return to the glory days of the Shumbas at the Dairibord Rugby Festival.
Last year, the Shumbas had a bad hunting expedition at the festival losing all their matches against the visiting Botswana side LKC, Goromonzi and Milton High.
“We have a good side this year and we are eyeing a return to the glory days of the Mutare Shumbas at the festival. We used to be among the top ranked rugby schools in the country and that is where we aim to reach this year. We have quite a good team and hope to maintain the standard from now onwards,” said Mufute.
This year Manicaland will only be represented by the Mutare Shumbas, Marist Panthers and Rusape’s Vengere High.
The Hillcrest College Leopards will not be taking part having recently come from a tour in South Africa.
A total of 16 primary schools are expected to make their debut appearance at this year’s edition. The selected schools will play a touch rugby round-robin tournament next Wednesday.
The 2016 edition will also run concurrently with the Old Mutual U-20 World Rugby Trophy qualifiers being hosted by Zimbabwe that started on Monday running until May 1.
Online Reporter