Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
RUGBY made a long-awaited and sensational return to Rusape as Makoni Country Club hosted the second round of the Manicaland Greenvest Minerals 7s Series.
The tournament featured Rusape Buffalos, Rusape Select, Mutare Sports Club, Rockstars and Knights Rugby Club, bringing competitive rugby back to the town for the first time in almost a decade.
The hosts, Rusape Buffalos, were outstanding on home soil, going unbeaten and defeating first-series leg champions, Mutare Sports Club 12-5 in the finals.
Mutare Sports Club coach, Armson Makumbe, thanked the Manicaland Rugby Board and its partner, Greenvest Minerals, for supporting the series.
“Beyond the results, the biggest victory was seeing Rusape reconnect with rugby and re-establish itself on the provincial rugby map.
“The successful tournament is an encouraging sign for the growth and revival of rugby in Manicaland. A special thank you goes to the Manicaland Rugby Board and its partner, Greenvest Minerals, for supporting the series, and helping create a platform for clubs, players and communities to compete and grow,” said Makumbe.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby team will be out to make a statement when they travel to Kenya for the 2026 edition of the Safari Sevens series this weekend.
As reigning Africa Cup champions, the Cheetahs want to prove that their conquest in Uganda last month was no fluke.
The Safari Sevens – slated for October 9-11 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya – is set to attract 12 men’s and six women’s teams that will vie for the title.
These include defending champions, Kenya Shujaa, Kenya Morans, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Shogun from the United Kingdom, Scotland, French Renegades, Wonder 7s, Wellington Jaguars from South Africa, GEL 7s from South Africa, SportPesa Fast Forwards from South Africa and Southern California Nomads from the United States.
The women’s category will feature six teams, namely Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Uganda, Shibli, Costa Blanca Barbarians from Spain, 2024 champions, and Tunisia. The 12 men’s teams have been divided into three groups, with Pool A consisting of Kenya Shujaa, Uganda, SportPesa Fast Forwards and Scotland.
Pool B includes Shogun, French Renegades, Wellington Jaguars and Southern California Nomads.
Zimbabwe are in Pool C alongside Kenya Morans, GEL and Wonder 7s.
Zimbabwe goes into the Safari Sevens with momentum on their side, as this comes after the Cheetahs conquered the Africa Cup in Uganda, finishing the tournament as the only unbeaten side last month.
They beat Uganda 26-19 in the finals to, not only claim their first Africa Cup title since 2018, but also earn promotion back into the World Rugby HSBC SVNS 3 tournament.
They are expected to travel to Dubai to fight for promotion into the second-tier division.
Cheetahs travelling squad: Tavonga Ablant; Takudzwa Kamucheta; Tapiwa Malenga; PK Manyakara; Tadiwanashe Maradze; Carlos Matematema; Munopa Muneta; Ryan Musumhi; Munyaradzi Ngandu; Kudakwashe Nyamakura; Joshua Thondhlana; Gamuchirai Nekati.
