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Sports Reporter
OLD Mutual has invested $90,000 towards schools rugby this year.
The sponsorship will cover high density schools rugby development.Thirty six schools are involved in the programme in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare.
“This programme runs for eight months and is ultimately meant to bridge the gap between traditional rugby schools and high density schools,” said Tendai Mutseyekwa, a spokesperson for the sponsors.
He said the sponsorship also covers provincial and national select sides. Four age groups will be catered under the deal, a move which should prop up the sport’s developmental programmes in the country’s most populous cities.
In arriving at rugby, the company noted that it was among the most popular schools sports in the country. They also discovered that it was very popular in the 12-19 years age group. These are mainly still at school.
It also enjoys a wide appeal and this has been evidenced by high attendances at rugby matches and festivals. A plus for the sport are the organised structures in schools sport up to the continent.
Old Mutual said the professional organisation of the sport at schools had given rugby a positive image which had seen other sports trying to emulate it.
Every year representative sides are sent to South Africa for the Craven Week tournament. Participation is at Under-13, 16 and 18 levels ensuring international exposure comes at an early age.
Old Mutual’s sponsorship will cover Under-13s, 16s and 18s. What is particularly positive is that the primary schools have been incorporated through the Under-13s deal.
Provincial teams from Namibia and South Africa – the hosts – take part in the competition. All three teams will be christened the Old Mutual Junior Sables and will be kitted by the assurance and property giant.
The sponsorship by the 110 year-old conglomerate is part of the company’s long term view in every project they are involved with.
Company chief executive Zom Chizura said his company was looking forward to spreading its sponsorship to other cities and towns in the future.
“Old Mutual firmly believes that the investment into junior rugby will help restore Zimbabwe to the powerhouse rugby country it used to be. As a leading integrated financial services group, we seek to play a leadership role in fostering development in society,” said Chizura.
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union has identified five community centres in Harare and Bulawayo as priorities for developing the game in the country.
He said their envisaged goal was to see their effort falling into the 2014-2016 strategic plan of ZRU and hopes are high that the country will qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics among other events.
This week there are two events scheduled for Bulawayo at Hartsfield today and Falcon College on Friday and Saturday.
May 23-24, 2014 Old Mutual U14 Interprovincial Trials Falcon College
May 23-24, 2014 Old Mutual U16 and 18 Matabeleland Trials Falcon College
May 23-24, 2014 U16 and 18 Hre Prov Trials Harare – Various Venues
May 30-31, 2014 Old Mutual U16 and U18 Interprovincial Trials St Johns College
June 14, Community Cup — Hartsfield, Bulawayo
June 20, 2014 Old Mutual Community Cup , Mabvuku
June 21, 2014 Old Mutual Community Cup , Mbare
June 22, 2014 Old Mutual Community Cup, Chitungwiza
June 29-July 6, 2014 U14 Craven Week Tournament, Durban, South Africa
July 6-13, 2014 U16 Craven Week Tournament ,Pretoria, South Africa
July 11-20, 2014 U18 Craven Week Tournament ,Middelburg, South Africa
July 23, 2014 Old Mutual Community Cup ,Hartsfield, Bulawayo
July 26, 2014 Old Mutual Inter-Community Cup, Mabvuku
derick.khumalo