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Augustine Hwata Harare Bureau
SOME of the outstanding players at the recently-held Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival have been selected for further training as part of a programme to groom them for the national junior teams. The Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the schools rugby committee have selected a provisional squad of 42 players who will play as the President’s Development XV.
Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival director Sebastian Garikayi is the head coach and will be assisted by Bob Mahari and Sean De Souza to develop the players selected from the various schools.
Schools’ rugby giants like Prince Edward, Lomagundi, Churchill, Peterhouse, St George’s, Falcon, Watershed and Gifford do not provide any players in the developmental squad.
“From this squad a team of 15 players will be selected to participate in the Zimbabwe National Under-18 trials,” the ZRU said yesterday.
“Members of this team could ultimately be eligible for a Zimbabwe U-18 ‘A’ or the National U-18 Craven Week XV and will be an integral part of the development and success of this age-grade team in 2014 and beyond.”
On Saturday a team of Possibles will take on the Probables at Prince Edward while the training camp will continue on Sunday before the national trials at St John’s College at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, the Old Mutual High Density Schools Rugby Development Programme, which was launched last month with three tournaments, gathers pace on Saturday when select sides from Harare and Chitungwiza meet in an Inter-Community Cup at Harare Sports Club.
Old Mutual invested $90,000 into schools rugby for the 2014 season and ZRU marketing consultant, David Crouch, said the sponsorship will help bridge the gap between established and upcoming schools.
“The development programme, which aims to providing more playing opportunities to boys and girls in select centres, will now see select teams from Mabvuku, Mbare, Seke and Zengeza at U-13, U-16 and U-18 level playing each other in full day of rugby this Saturday at Harare Sports Club, starting at 10am,” said Crouch.
“In Bulawayo the programme takes shape with a tournament planned for Hartsfield Ground, where eight of the development teams that have been identified by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union will play each other on Wednesday 21 May.”
Presidents’ XV Development
Roberto Ndlela (Western Surbubs), Tinashe Chaza (Allan Wilson), Lucky Goto (Allan Wilson), Takudzwa Mudzamiri (Kwekwe High), Alberto Mangani (Kwekwe High), Ray Maga (George Stark), Kudakwashe Rupuyo (Mt Pleasant), Nelson Gwenya ( Herentals College), Simba Muza (Heritage School), Terrence Ncube (Milton High), Ngoni Makoni (Goromonzi High), Marshall Mudzimu (Vainona High), Brighton Chinyanya (Vainona High), Zibusiso Hlabangana (Milton High), Blessing Nota (George Stark), Tawanda Shamu (Tynwald High), Kumbulani Mbazo (Herentals College), Tanaka Mukanganise (Herentals), Nicolas Mapondera (Nhowe Mission), Dextar Nyamuzanga (Nhowe Mission), Givemore Muchenje (Allan Wilson), Tawanda Majachani(Allan Wilson), Dickens Mukokoti (Allan Wilson), Richard Mutukwa (Allan Wilson), Pride Nyameni (Allan Wilson), Ryan Musumhi (Allan Wilson), Lionel Mangwende (Heritage School), Emmanuel Zangari ( Milton High), Simon Ndhlovu (Heritage School), Israel Pawandiwa ( Vainona High), James Vambe (Vainona High), Tarisai Mugariri, (Milton High), Adrian Zvarevashe (Allan Wilson), Chemist Manduku (Ellis Robins), Tanaka Kaura (Ellis Robins), Tanaka Sinclair (Ellis Robins), Wise Kupara (George Stark), Arthur Kwashira (Tynwald High), Takadiwa Chipfumbu (Trust Academy), Tafadzwa Zhangazha (Chinhoyi High), Bravy Lamp (Trust Academy), Johns Watch (Bernard Mizeki), Lucas Tembani (Bernard Mzeki).
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