De Souza names Junior Sables squad

ZIMBABWE has announced an 80-member national Under-20 rugby team to prepare for the Barthes Cup to be hosted in Harare in April.

Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza announced the big squad yesterday morning.

“We have selected 80 players deliberately for purposes of continuation. We have incorporated an academy into the squad which has mostly players under the age of 18. Once we lose some of the senior players these will then easily take over making a smooth continuation process. We have quite a number of talented players in this squad and l must say it has been exciting to work with them. We have the Barthes Trophy coming up and it will be exciting to hunt for that third title in front of our home fans,” said De Souza.

Organised by Rugby Africa, the Barthes Under-20 Trophy is the official African Rugby Championship for national teams in the age bracket.

The countries that take part in the competition are Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia.

The Junior Sables have won the competition for past two consecutive years.

In 2022, Zimbabwe were champions after they beat Namibia 19-14 to end an 11-year drought for the trophy.

Last year they won the competition after beating hosts Kenya 28-7.

Zimbabwe has always produced some of the finest junior rugby players on the continent with its schools’ rugby system providing a regular dosage of exciting talent.

However, some of the country’s most promising young rugby players are lost along the way and don’t make the transition to play for the Sables.

High Performance Squad

Shingirai Manyarara, Allan Mawunga, Polite Phiri, Tinashe Mudanga, Godfrey Zvinavashe, Tadiwanashe Unganai, Tafara Dewa, Tadiwa Mandimustrira, Shammah Jackson, Brendon Mudzwiti, Huntley Masterson, Tawanayasha Bwanya, Brendon Jameson, Kelton Kaseke, Stanley Muranganwa Kudakwashe Nyamushaya, Tadiwa Chikuriro, Tawonga Chingosho, Emmanuel Magutakuona, Tatenda Runyowa, Thabani Ndlovu, Tinotenda Rusike, Tino Matimbira, Darryl Mwenzo, Seth-Jesse Kodzanai, Wayne Kunaka, Tapiwa Zhanda, Godwin Phiri, Ethan Ferguson, Dominic Mckechnie, Tanaka Mupamahadzi, Takudzwa Mandiyambira, Rogers Tayengwa, Cody Cooper, Mudiwa Hakunavanhu, Tatenda Mpagore, Chester Mpofu, Tadiwa Maradzi, Brandon Gwenzi, Sean Tigere, Cristiano Dube, Emmanuel Gabi, Vimbiso Kasvosve, Nyasha Nwarati, Jeff Muzavazi, Owen Musumhi, Philip Chimaka, Simbarare Sanyanga, lan Mabuto, Elias Chitengwa, Martel Wolfenden, Jamie Mathwasa, Tinevimbo Nyoni, Gil Mtema, Babongile Ncube, Damien Moyo, Benoni Nhekairo, Edward Sigauke, Kholwani Mo??, Cody Grant, Joseph Benning, Kelvin Kaseke, Louange Ujenza Mutimawurukundo, Tanya Takaendisa, Huntsmann Greaves, Joseph Thumba, Amazing Vheriwa, Takudzwa Matsvimbo, Innocent Dekete, Vuyani Ncube, Cole Musanigwa, Tiamike Mlambo, O’Neil Joshua Bekker, Joe Masunda, Tafadzwa Tigere, Michael Shaba, Nicky Magobera, Kudzai Waylen Tsvakirai, Kaitano Tembo, Brendon Mukarati, Ethan Tate Msendo, Victor Muchenge, Brendon Mubaiwa.

-@innocentskizoe