Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE rugby is riding a new wave of belief and the latest development has only deepened that feeling. Word from South Africa points to Stormers lock Gary Porter preparing to throw his weight behind the Sables as they build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
For a team returning to the world stage after 36 years, every piece of the puzzle matters. Porter, at 29 and standing 2,01m, offers the kind of presence coaches dream about. His top flight experience with the Stormers and his Zimbabwean roots through his Bulawayo born mother have made this possible, and the news has stirred real excitement back home.
“With his size, he is what we need in the team. Going into the World Cup, we need a strong squad, with a wide range of players. This is not to say the guys who got us to the World Cup are not enough, they are all exceptional but I feel like we need some extra depth and with these guys coming in, we can be able to assemble a good team that will go to Australia and fly our Zimbabwean flag high for the whole world to see,” said one coach who preferred anonymity.
This moment feels familiar for Zimbabwean rugby followers. The Sables have steadily welcomed back players with local heritage who made their names abroad but never lost their connection to home. Ian Prior opened the new chapter when he retraced his roots last year. Born in Queensland to a Zimbabwean mother, he spent part of his childhood in Zimbabwe before rising through the ranks of Australian rugby. After representing Australia Under 20s, he cracked Super Rugby with the Reds and eventually returned to the Sables fold, where he steered Zimbabwe through the 2024 and 2025 Rugby Africa Cups.
Kyle Godwin followed soon after, becoming the second Australia based backline talent to answer the call. Their arrivals strengthened a squad that had already begun to show signs of real renewal.
Porter, even without being a guaranteed starter for the Stormers, fits that pattern. His height gives Zimbabwe an edge in set pieces and his pedigree offers the kind of stability the second row often decides in tight Test matches. For a team about to enter a demanding World Cup pool with England, Wales and Tonga, every inch counts.
The draw itself was a reminder of how far Zimbabwe have come. When their name was pulled on Wednesday, it marked their return to a stage last graced in 1991, and it capped a turnaround that has delivered back to back Africa Cup titles. Those triumphs re-established Zimbabwe as Africa’s number two behind the Springboks and restored a level of confidence that had long been missing.
The 2027 tournament will break from tradition. Instead of 20 teams, 24 will compete, forming six pools of four. The top two in each pool progress to the Round of 16. The four best third placed teams will also advance based on competition points, then points difference and try difference if needed. With more spaces on offer and a wider global field, the Sables have a chance to shape a story that stretches beyond nostalgia.
If Porter’s arrival is confirmed, it becomes another sign that Zimbabwe’s rugby resurgence is more than a brief moment. It feels like a movement, one driven by talent returning home, belief growing inside the changing room, and a nation ready to follow the team back onto the biggest stage the sport can offer. —@brandon_malvin
