adminNgoni Dapira
THE International Rugby Board regional development manager for Africa, Jean-Luc Barthes, arrived yesterday (Thursday) in Zimbabwe for a five-day annual review meeting. Barthes’ visit comes at the right time when Zimbabwe’s rugby is at its high point, but suffering profoundly from financial constraints and speculations of poor administration. According to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union Press release, Barthes’ visit will assess the ZRU administration and weigh up Zimbabwe’s rugby standards.
“International Rugby Board (IRB), Regional Development Manager for Africa, Jean-Luc Barthes, will be in Zimbabwe for five days for the IRB annual review meeting with the ZRU executive and administration.
“This falls in line with the IRB’s governance protocols and the ZRU’s commitment to maintain accountability and responsibility for the game in Zimbabwe.
“Barthes arrived in the country on Thursday (yesterday) for a review and performance meeting to discuss, among other strategic issues, the ZRU development plan and how it will be implemented in 2015 as well as make visits to community playing centres.
“On the agenda, the ZRU executive will also brief the IRB on the progress of all national team programmes and their performance,” reads part of a Press statement from ZRU.
In 2011 Zimbabwe’s national rugby team, Sables, were promoted into the Confederation of African Rugby Division 1A tournament and have been improving ever since.
This year, the Sables in their defining moment unfortunately failed by an inch to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup to be held in England.
They had an impressive run at the CAR Division 1A tournament in Madagascar last month despite missing the African slot narrowly by aggregate points to Namibia and lost to Russia at the repechage (play-offs) in Siberia earlier this month.
The visit by Barthes also comes at the right time as many rugby critiques have often questioned ZRU concerning the amount of rugby funding from IRB towards Zimbabwe’s rugby development.
Online Reporter