Sables Lager Grid Cup locked and loading

Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub

WITH the provincial rugby championship leagues now concluded, the nation’s top players are preparing to return to the pitch for an exciting new venture: the inaugural Sables Lager Grid Cup.

Scheduled to kick off at Harare Sports Club on 25 October, the tournament has already sparked considerable enthusiasm among local rugby fans.

Four specially drafted teams will compete for top honours in this fresh competition. The participating franchises — Impis, Ngunis, Valley Blades, and Sun Rays — will be captained by Kudzai Mashawi, Aiden Burnett, Hilton Mudariki, and Dion Khumalo, respectively.

The tournament is a collaborative effort between the Zimbabwe Rugby union (ZRU), Kyros Sports, and the host body, Harare Rugby. Crucially, the initiative is designed to raise the standard of the national team and build a stronger foundation as Zimbabwe looks ahead to the 2027 World Cup. It aims to increase local competition and ensure the team is well-prepared for international challenges.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Nyasha Muchochomi of Kyros Sports outlined the vision behind the new competition, highlighting the issue of player inactivity. He said that the tournament was created to provide more playing time for locally based players, who often face long gaps between competitive matches.

“The tournament is there to create playing time for the guys playing locally. One of the biggest things affecting local players is (lack of) more game time. The season has ended and the next time guys will see rugby would be next year, after the Under-20 season. It’s more than a six-month period between games, so basically, this is us trying to create more game opportunities. You can notice that other parts of the world still have local competition rugby happening, so it is important that we start aligning ourselves with the best practices from other countries and creating some competition.”

To maximise excitement and ensure competitive balance, the organisers opted for a novel approach rather than relying on traditional club structures.

“If we went to the traditional clubs and their structures, because they have already played their competitions and winners have been determined, it wouldn’t bring as much excitement if we played under the same banners. So, we then came up with a franchise system where players, who are available, enter their names and then a set of coaches and captains based around the national team pick their players on who they want. They take turns, like a draft pick system, and this allows the teams to be even. Also, what it does is, it allows coaches to have an opportunity to coach players they have never worked with and likewise for players, to experience something different under a new coach,” said Muchochomi.

The goal, Muchochomi said, is to generate fresh excitement and create an event that appeals to players, spectators, and all rugby stakeholders, while increasing competition for players across the country. Each of the four teams will feature a roster of 25 players, meaning 100 players in total will be involved.

“There are some new names in there from what we are used to. Because coaches are selecting players in the pool, there are players from all over Zimbabwe. It’s good to see that there is a good mix of selection from all around the country. Not only that, we have also noticed that a handful of players who registered are boys based in South Africa, and that will create something different as well — seeing some of the Zimbabwean boys based in South Africa come back to Zimbabwe and compete and show that they are quality and they can play good rugby. That has been one of the things in creating a wider pool,” said Muchochomi.

With a few notable names unavailable due to other commitments, the tournament also presents a valuable opportunity for younger players to step up and make a name for themselves. The four teams will compete in a round-robin format. After the pool games, the top two teams will advance to the final, while the bottom two sides will contest third place. The player draft has already been completed, and team lists have been finalised. Tickets for the matches have been set at US$2 for general entry.