admin
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Sports Club (MSC) are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup which is set to undergo a change in format, with the annual competition set to be played under festival rules this year.
The rugby competition has also been reduced to a three-day event that will now be held between March 17 and 19 at Harare Sports Club.
Eight teams have been confirmed for the three-day rugby extravaganza, which is being used primarily as a last chance for Zimbabwe senior rugby coach, Brendan Dawson to have a look at some of the local players.
The teams include last year’s winners, Old Georgians, Harare Sports Club, Pitbulls, Mutare Sports Club, Matabeleland Warriors, Old Hararians, a Nedbank developmental side and an Under-20 High-Performance Centre (HPC) team.
According to the competition organisers, the changes in format have been occasioned by the Zimbabwe Goshawks’ participation at the 2023 edition of the Currie Cup First Division and Mzanzi Challenge.
The Goshawks open their account of the Currie Cup First Division/Mzanzi Challenge on March 25, when they play the Leopards at Olen Park, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Be that as it may, MSC has been taking advantage of the Manicaland Rugby Board games that have been on for the past four weeks to sharpen their skills and ensure they will stand the heat when the Nebbank Challenge Cup gets underway.
Last weekend, MSC got the better of bitter cross-town rivals, Old Crestonians 22-08 in a result that left their tails wagging up high.
Their manager, Casper Bandi, said: “What a team performance that was from the Shumbas (MSC). We all knew how this big was. We were ready for them. We all knew about the importance of this game. We were out to win it.
“The boys proved that Mutare Sports Club Rugby team is the best team in Manicaland. We are looking forward to our next game against Southern City here in Mutare before we go for Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup.”
In the other Manicaland Rugby Board matches played last weekend, Spartans were at the receiving end at the hands of Africa University in a match that ended in a 05 – 31 scoreline.
In the ladies’ category, Mutare Select thumped Sahumani Bullets 19-0.
Online Reporter