Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe national rugby team, the Sables, will bank on home support when they host Namibia in a Test match at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday, with captain Hilton Mudariki urging fans to turn out in numbers.
The two nations share a deep-rooted rivalry that has consistently produced fiercely contested encounters, making their latest meeting an eagerly anticipated fixture for rugby supporters.
With Zimbabwe set to host international rugby at the iconic National Sports Stadium for the first time in two decades, Mudariki believes the home crowd could provide the Sables with a significant boost.
“We are very excited, it’s a new venue and a whole new experience for us,” he said.
“You can tell just from the buzz that is around with some rugby being played locally, so you can imagine what it will be like with international-quality rugby being played locally. People are excited.”
The Sables edged Namibia 30-28 in the final of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda, securing qualification for the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1991.
Saturday’s encounter will provide a competitive test for Zimbabwe as they continue preparations for next year’s global showpiece, where they will face England, Wales and Tonga in a challenging pool.
The tournament is scheduled to run from October 1 to November 13, 2027, with Zimbabwe opening their campaign against Wales at Adelaide Oval on October 2.
Mudariki said the high-profile friendly would provide valuable preparation while helping the rugby fraternity attract new supporters and grow the game beyond its traditional following.
“We can’t wait to get going, and we have always wanted to grow the game of rugby after qualifying for the World Cup, so this is the perfect opportunity for us to do that in an easier manner,” he said.
“We want to attract different supporters, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for that, and a moment also for those who want to learn or understand more about the game.
“Apart from that, it is a great experience for us to play in this iconic stadium because none of us have ever played at the National Sports Stadium, so this is something that is going to be new, and we just want to absorb the experience and really enjoy it.”
The Sables will be without their foreign-based internationals, leaving the team to field an entirely locally based squad, with several players expected to make their senior international debuts.
With a bumper crowd anticipated, Mudariki has urged his players, particularly the newcomers, to remain composed and express themselves despite the pressure of performing before a large home audience.
“We know that we are going to have a bumper crowd. We have new and younger players in the team who will definitely be new to the atmosphere,” he said.
“The message is that we just want to go out there and express ourselves and also be able to make our fans proud.
“But, speaking of the game itself, we are not necessarily putting ourselves under pressure because we are alive to the bigger picture, considering where we are headed.
“We want to get a result, but at the end of the day, we need the lessons more. This is one of the major processes that we have to go through in preparation for the global showpiece.”
The skipper said the squad had worked intensively in camp over the past few weeks, making Saturday’s match an important opportunity to test their tactical plans and assess their ability to cope with pressure.
“We have been working hard for the last couple of weeks, taking in all the notes and different game plans that we will use, and now it is time to put all that to the test while also weighing how much we can bend under pressure,” Mudariki said.
He said Zimbabweans were passionate sports supporters, adding that the team wanted to reward their backing by delivering a memorable performance on home soil following their historic World Cup qualification.
“Above everything, Zimbabweans are passionate and very supportive people who love sport, so after getting the opportunity to put our country on the map again, on the world stage, now we want to play in front of a massive crowd and let them have the real feel of who we are.
“What better way than to play our first home game after qualifying for the World Cup at the iconic stadium? It’s a great opportunity for people from all corners of Zimbabwe to come out in their green and white and just support the game.”
