adminGeophrey Sifani, Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Rugby Football Board chairman Theo Weale says eight developmental teams will compete in an end-of-the-season tournament at Hartsfield Rugby Ground tomorrow.
The teams have adopted eight primary schools, which will also compete in their own tournament at the same venue tomorrow.
“These developmental teams have been in training for a year and we feel they are ready for competitive rugby. This orientation will also work as a way of talent identification for our senior teams,” said Weale.
The developmental teams are drawn for from areas around the city and they include Crusaders, which caters for schools in central Bulawayo; Cheetahs (Mzilikazi schools); Choppies (Entumbane schools); Chiefs (Emakhandeni schools); Stormers (Cowdray Park schools); Barbarians (Pumula schools); Indlovu (Tshabalala schools) and Bulldogs (Nketa schools).
He said the teams were selected by the board’s provincial development officers from the province’s primary schools.
He said coaches will also use the tournament to select teams for the Lou Corbi Rugby Festival on November 28 at Hartsfield.
“We’re targeting to have Matabeleland players playing for the national teams, and with the centres that we’re preparing and utilising for talent development, we’re going to see a rejuvenation of the game in the southern part of the country and the return of competitive rugby,” said Weale.
He said former national team players Zivanai Dzinomurumbi and Gilbert Nyamutsamba will be the quests of honour and will also be made life members of the MFRB.
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