OVER the last 14 months, Zimbabwe has experienced a journey of euphoria and celebration, with the Sables securing qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, their first appearance since 1991, while also facing off against South Africa ‘A’ and playing in the inaugural Nations Cup.
In what is undoubtedly a new era for the Southern African nation, it is also the start of a new chapter for players like Gary Porter.
The Stormers lock came close to making his Test match debut in 2025, but he had to wait until June 2026 to finally wear the colours of Zimbabwe.
“June 2026 was my first camp, and it was an incredible experience, especially because we were going to face South Africa ‘A’ later that week. I know it wasn’t an official cap, but facing several familiar faces was a special way to start my rugby journey with Zimbabwe,” he said.
Because of club commitments and the fact he was recovering from an injury, Porter couldn’t help Zimbabwe earn their qualification for Australia 2027 through the Rugby Africa Cup, though he lived it just as intensely from home.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking, even if I wasn’t there. It was tough watching from the sidelines, but I was ecstatic when they pulled it off, so I messaged a few of the coaches to congratulate them on what they had just accomplished.”
However, a new opportunity arose in June with the lock taking on a prominent role in the team led by Pieter Benade.
Porter started all three Nations Cup matches in July, adding more threat and layers to the Sables set-piece.
“I tried to bring everything that I have learnt from the Stormers and Ealing. I think they looked to me to bring composure and experience in the set-piece. But I didn’t join only with the idea of adding; I wanted to learn as well, as the team was doing well in that area.”
Despite his immense playing experience and the expectations around him, Porter echoes fly-half Ian Prior’s view that the Zimbabwe camp has an untapped pool of talent that deserves attention.
“There is always an expectation when someone who plays in the URC or in another high-level competition joins the squad. It’s a kind of pressure that you have to get used to.
That said, sever-al of my national team teammates could be playing in the world’s top leagues. A huge pool of talent deserves more recognition.”
In July, they faced the United States and Canada for the first time, and Tonga only for the second; Zimbabwe competed fiercely and pushed each match to the final moments, coming within a single try of defeating Canada.
In Porter’s view, the Nations Cup gave the team a faster path to progress and pushed them closer to their best selves ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“The Nations Cup was definitely a learning curve for a lot of us, as it was the first time we played against some of those nations.
“We were looking to push our rivals, and I think we did that, even though we didn’t bank a win. It was a massive step in the right direction, with good learnings for everyone, which will carry into November.”
For the lock, one of the main highlights from July was how well the team was supported from the stands, with thousands of fans following them and carrying them on their shoulders, a sign that Zimbabwe is much bigger than anyone thinks.
“I was blown away by the amount of Zimbabwe supporters in the stands across our Nations Cup games in North America. It was an amazing scene, and I am sure that will be very much the same when we play in Wakefield and Ealing.” — rugbypass.com
