Rugby trials for Falcon College

Senior Sports Reporter
AS was expected, Falcon College supplied the highest number of players to the Matabeleland Under-18 rugby select side for the national trials which the private school is hosting in Esigodini on Friday and Saturday.

Falcon, by far the best rugby playing school in Matabeleland and the finest in Zimbabwe based on current form, had 16 of their players picked for the provincial side made up of 26 youngsters. Christian Brothers College supplied four players, Petra have two, Plumtree one while the Western Suburbs have three.

The players were selected after trials held at Hartsfield Rugby Ground last Saturday. Falcon defeated CBC 48-0 on the day to maintain their superb form which has seen them go unbeaten from the pre-season. Falcon won three matches on tour in South Africa in April, followed that up with another three wins at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival in Harare before they thumped Prince Edward in their opening match of the season played in Esigodini.

Falcon fullback Shaun Snyder, a member of the Zimbabwe team which went to last year’s Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week in Middelburg, South Africa will lead the Matabeleland youngsters at the national trials. He is deputised by impressive hooker Brian “Beast” Muntanga, also from Falcon, another member of the Old Mutual sponsored Young Sables squad for last year.

At the national trials, a Young Sables squad is going to be chosen for this year’s Craven Week set for Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch in July.

Also happening at the same time and venue are trials for the Under-16s where a national side will be selected for the Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week in Oudtshoorn, South Africa in early July.

Matabeleland Under-18 rugby full squad

A Sibanda, B Muntanga (vice-captain), C Kundiona, N Smit, B Mpofu, D Landrey, S Dodington, L Fargnoli, C Nyakudya, B Meredith, S Phiri, J Zietsman, M McNab, P Davis, S Snyder, E Nxumalo (all Falcon College), T Msasanure, W Moyo, J Salvatierra, B Williams (all CBC) D Kolosa (Plumtree), J Dube, B Fuyane (both Petra) D Fisher, K Ndebele, T Goredema( all Western Suburbs).