Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE senior men’s national rugby team flanker Tinotenda Mavesere has urged the Sables to stay grounded and hungry as they kick off preparations for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, the tournament that doubles as a direct qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Sables head into this high-stakes campaign as defending champions, having lifted last year’s Africa Cup title, their first in 12 years. Mavesere, who plays for South Africa’s Sharks, was back home over the weekend as the Sables launched their 2025 season with a commanding 70-15 demolition of Zambia. While he did not feature in the match, the powerhouse flanker said the team is now firmly focused on the task ahead.
“It’s always great coming back home. Everything’s going well back in South Africa, but it’s been amazing to be part of the squad for the first game of the season. Too bad I wasn’t playing, but I’m happy to support the boys and help kick off the campaign,” said Mavesere, affectionately known as The Driller.
Despite the celebratory mood following last season’s triumph, Mavesere stressed the need for focus and a fresh mindset.
“Coming off the back of winning the trophy, there’s a calm energy in the team and it’s great to feed off that. But this is a new season, a new team, we’re starting with a clean slate. We have to go back to the drawing board and make sure there’s no room for complacency,” he said.
With a ticket to the 2027 World Cup on the line, Mavesere said the dream of representing Zimbabwe on the global stage is driving the team’s ambition.
“World Cup qualification is every athlete’s dream, something you grow up visualising as a kid. Now we’re on the verge of that, and while there are nerves, it’s mostly excitement. We’ve got a real shot at making history.”
Zimbabwe will contest the 2025 Africa Cup from 20–28 July in Uganda. They were drawn in a fiercely competitive Pool A alongside hosts Uganda, regional rivals Kenya, and Morocco.
The Sables begin their title defence in the quarter-finals against Morocco, winners of the Africa Cup Repechage. The other quarter-final in Pool A features a derby showdown between Kenya and Uganda, with the winners of both ties clashing in the semi-finals.
Pool B will see Namibia face Senegal, while Algeria go up against Côte d’Ivoire in the remaining quarter-finals. As reigning champions, Zimbabwe enter the tournament as top seeds.
The Sables made history as the first African team to participate in the Rugby World Cup, featuring in the inaugural tournaments in 1987 and 1991. Since then, only Namibia and South Africa, who debuted in 1995 and won the tournament that same year, have carried the African flag on rugby’s grandest stage. Zimbabwe has not qualified since 1991, making this year’s campaign a mission of redemption and revival for the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. — @brandon_malvin
