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Senior Sports Reporter
INTERNATIONAL rugby returns to Bulawayo for the first time since 2011 when Zimbabwe clash with Kenya at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in a Rugby Africa Gold Cup on 22 July.
According to confirmed 2017 fixtures sent out by Rugby Africa, the Sables and the Simbas encounter is scheduled for Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe get their campaign underway in the six team group with an away fixture against Senegal in Dakar on 24 June. The Cyprian Mandenge-coached Sables clash with Namibia in Windhoek on 15 July.
Tunisia is the other team heading to Zimbabwe with the clash against the Sables in Harare on 29 July. Zimbabwe’s last assignment is an away contest with Uganda in Kampala on 5 August.
Last year was a disastrous one for the Sables as they lost all the three matches they played in the top competition in Africa.
Zimbabwe lost 61-15 to Kenya and 34-27 Uganda with both matches at Police Grounds in Harare before they were thumped 60-22 by Namibia in Windhoek to finish at the bottom of the four-team group with just a point secured from the loss to Uganda. Zimbabwe were meant to be relegated but during the Rugby Africa annual general meeting held in Kasane, Botswana last month it was decided to expand the top group from four teams to six.
International rugby last took place in Bulawayo in July 2011 when the Sables defeated Uganda 49-21 in a Victoria Cup clash. Zimbabwe went on to win the competition which also featured Kenya.
Since then all the international action has taken place in Harare with excuses such as logistics being posited by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union for not bringing matches to Bulawayo.
The Sables have to finish on top of the pool this year as indications are that the winner of the Rugby Africa Gold Cup will automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup in Japan while the runner-up also stands a chance of heading to the tournament through the repachage process.
@Mdawini_29
Online Reporter