Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema and Debra Matabvu
RUGBY Africa president Herbert Mensah has announced that his board has helped facilitate a friendly match between the Zimbabwe Sables and South Africa’s A side in June.
The match will act as a curtain raiser for the Springboks opening tie against the Barbarians.
Mensah made the announcement shortly after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House yesterday.
He said was happy the Government had committed to assisting the World Cup bound Sables in their preparations of the Sables team.
“The Sables are the champions of Africa and will not only represent Zimbabwe but the whole of continent at the World Cup.
“We know we have the greatest athletes in the world in Africa but sometimes do not get the investment that is required.
“There is a flywheel of life that requires the union, the regulators, myself as president of Rugby Africa, but it also requires big business and most importantly Government.”
Mensah applauded President Mnangagwa for confirming to fully support the national team before and during the World Cup.
“He understands what is required for preparation, he listened attentively and confirmed that he would be giving us the full support,” Mensah added.
“The full support, we need to refurbish the Police Grounds, we need to get a stadium and a park that we can bring teams to Zimbabwe to play.
“We want to bring the Victoria Cup in the next two months here, so Zimbabweans can witness Zimbabwe Sables playing against the likes of Namibia, Uganda and Kenya
“I announced to him that the South Africans have agreed for the Sables to play a South Africa A side in Port Elizabeth.
“That has never happened before.”
Mensah applauded President Mnangagwa for confirming to fully support the national team before and during the World Cup.
Mensah highlighted how preparations will need to include players’ salaries, getting the Sables to play in matches across the world, bringing teams to Zimbabwe as well infrastructure.
He believes that the Sables’ qualification for next year’s World Cup in Australia can attract investment into the country.
“While Zimbabwe have been unfairly treated over the last decades, surely this is a tournament in which we can bring investment to Zimbabwe.
“Invest in the Sables and let us tie it to the investment for Zimbabwe.”
The match against South Africa A is set to act as a curtain raiser to the South Africa Springboks match against the Barbarians.
The Springboks kick off a novel 2026 season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20 – the second home fixture between the teams in as many seasons – at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
It will be held exactly two weeks before the Springboks inaugural Nations Championship match against England at Ellis Park.
For Zimbabwe, it will be their last match before they depart for their World Rugby Nations Cup campaign in the United States of America.
The Sables leave for the US on June 28 and kick off their Nations Cup campaign on July 4 against Tonga.
The announcement of the match has been generally received well with most of the local rugby community excited at the prospect of the Sables testing their mettle against South Africa.
For Sables coach Piet Benade it is falls in line with his vision for the kind of opposition he desires for his Zimbabwe Sables side as the countdown to the Nations Cup and, by extension, the Rugby World Cup continues.
The Zimbabwe gaffer wants top opposition for his Sables and has challenged the South Africa Rugby union to select their best possible side for the match.
There is also even a fairly good chance that the match against South Africa A could be the first time he deploys his new arrivals from the Diaspora.
“We have got a huge challenge ahead of us, playing against the South Africa A side, and I wouldn’t have any other way,” said Benade.
“The game will definitely generate a lot of excitement, what with Zimbabwe playing a South Africa national team.
“That is how I view it, the South Africa A side is a national team.
“We know that the set-up there (South Africa) is at a different level but it time for us to give ourselves a little competition, test ourselves and see where we are at.
“The goal and main target remain the Nations Cup, of course, but we intend to take this game very seriously,” Benade said.
Benade will be taking his local-based players to South Africa for a couple scrimmage matches against a few clubs there at the end of the month.
Zambia and Botswana are next with Benade due to give his local players yet another run against the minnows.
In May and June, the Victoria Cup returns return with Zimbabwe due to host Namibia, Kenya and Uganda.
The Sables will then wrap up their preparations with the match against South Africa.
“We are looking to travel to South Africa, at the end of the month, where we have a few matches against a couple of clubs there,” he said.
“This will be with the local boys and the goal is to give them a pathway ahead of camp and selection later.
“In April, we are looking to host Zambia and Botswana and then later we have the Victoria Cup and the match against South Africa A,” he said.
