adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
SCHOOLS rugby will receive a boost this year after the Zimbabwe Rugby Union secured a sponsor for a new Inter-schools 7s tournament. ZRU partnered local dairy company Dendairy for the new Dendairy Inter-schools 7s programme which will be held from March 12 to April 9. Four tournaments will be held simultaneously involving the first teams of each school with 32 schools taking part in the programme.
ZRU did not, however, reveal the total value of the sponsorship package.
The ZRU financial reports presented on Sunday show that there has been a 253.14% increase in the money spent on sevens rugby from US$4 678 to US$11 842 between 2011 and 2012.
An internal audit revealed that the ZRU used US$37 789 in 2013 compared to a US$11 842 in 2012.
Currently the Zimbabwe developmental structures are mainly based on 15s rugby dominated by major tournaments such as the COTTCO rugby festival.
According to the ZRU, they spent US$123 183 on the Sables in 2011 and reduced that figure radically to US$8 545 in 2012 but the figure rose in 2013 to US$86 896.
Online Reporter