Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national rugby team players, Shayne Makombe as well as George Saungweme have renewed contracts with their respective European clubs.
Makombe has signed a new deal with French side, Rugby Club Compiegne. The centre has been with Compiegne since 2017.
“I’m grateful for the renewal and opportunity to be doing what I love. I’m also excited to get back to playing rugby and playing for the club again,’’ Makombe said.
The Sables and Cheetahs player had his contract terminated by the French club because of the coronavirus. Makombe is in Lithuania at the moment where he signed a four-week deal Azuolas Kaunas Rugby Club, who play in that country’s top league. Rugby is being played in Lithuania since they were not that hard hit by Covid-19. Makombe is excited by the Lithuanian chance where he was warmly received.
“The Lithuanian opportunity has been amazing for me, I received a warm welcome and outside of training the guys show me and it’s been a pleasant experience all round building new friendships and spreading the spirit and values of rugby. I am playing for Azuolas Kaunas Rugby Club based in Kaunas County. They’re playing in the Baltic League. It’s a six-team league with two Latvian teams. They’re considering adding Polish teams and this league has huge potential for growth and it could be a possible market for players in the near future,’’ he said.
Sables loose forward Saungweme has just put to paper with his Spanish club, CAR Coanda Sevilla, with the new deal to run until December 2021.
“There were many stories flying around here but I’m staying put, my new contract expires in December 2021,’’ he said.
Saungweme has been with Spanish club since 2018. Last season, they finished eighth out of 15 with just one fixture not played for the 2019/20 period. In Spain, one the countries hard hit by Covid-19, they are now gearing up for resumption of the game, with the 2020/21 season to kick off in September. – @Mdawini_29
Bongani Ndlovu