adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
AN epic National Rugby League semi-final is on the cards next Saturday when defending champions Old Hararians face bitter rivals Old Georgians.
Harare Sports Club are expected to take on Bulawayo side Busters.
After having been in a fix about when to play the semi-finals, following a clash of dates between the XVs league and the Sevens, the NRL executive revealed that the matches will be played on October 25.
The NRL clubs agreed to use Week Nine of their fixtures to select the teams that will play in the semi-finals.
Sports Club emerged as the top team, followed by defending champions Old Hararians with Old Georgians in third place while Bulawayo giants Busters complete the qualifying teams.
Sports Club and the Old Boys will enjoy home semi-finals.
“Clubs are willing to go for the knock out stage next week and they have all agreed that we will use Week 9 where all teams were at par with regards the number of games played,” and NRL president Noddy Kanyangara.
“We are giving the clubs time to prepare for the game, starting from now, and that is why we have slatted the first stage for next weekend so that they have the remainder of this week and the whole of next week to prepare.
“The final will be on November 1.”
The Summer Series Sevens tournament will also get underway on November 1, the same weekend that the NRL are expected to hold their national finals.
osers of the two semi-finals.
The NRL is faced with another juggle that if Busters make it for the final against the winner of the game between Old Hararians and Old Georgians, then it will be impossible for them to play on November 1 or even on the Friday before as they are also expected to play in the Bulawayo edition of the Sevens Series.
The first leg of the Sevens Series will be played in Bulawayo, where Busters will take part in on the same day they are expected to play in the NRL XVs final.
“We cannot afford not to finish the league games in the next two weeks, but Busters are our biggest fix at the moment, but we will have to negotiate with the club to see what their feeling is on playing and how they will balance between the Sevens and XVs games.
“Both top teams have the right to a home semi-final, and they have to enjoy their home advantage so my thought is we will have to have one of the semis start earlier and the other be played at night,” said Kanyangarara.
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