Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national fifteens rugby team, the Sables have lined up a number of friendly matches ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup in July which also serves as the qualification pathway for 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Zimbabwe will take on Zambia in Harare on 2 and 5 June, clash with the Namibian Welwitschias at home as well as away with another fixture lined up for in South Africa against a Blue Bulls select team in early July prior to the Sables leaving for Tunisia on 12 July.
Initially, Zimbabwe were meant to travel to Zambia but the Zambians will now make their way to Harare with their senior men and women’s national teams together with the junior men Under-20 for matches at Harare Sports Club on 2 and 5 June.
Namibia, who will be playing as the Welwitschias are coming to Harare for the match on 12 June and the Sables travel to Windhoek for a fixture set for seven days later. Jason Maritz, the Sables team manager said they are making plans to play against a Blue Bulls select team at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 3 or 8 July before the Sables head off to Tunisia on 12 July.
In Tunisia, Zimbabwe will face the Rugby Africa repechage winner on 14 July and then clash with Tunisia four days later.
The Rugby Africa Cup repechage is taking place in Burkina Faso from 5-13 June which also includes Burundi, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.
A squad of 48 players have been called up into camp which starts today with the training sessions to be conducted at Old Georgians Sports Club.
“Players will be coming in and out of camp. So, in other words we won’t have all the time and there could still be players added and removed depending on performances,’’ Maritz said.
Meanwhile, the country’s sevens national team, the Cheetahs found the going tough on the final day of action at the Rugby Africa Rugby Africa Sevens Solidarity Camp where they lost both matches they played last week.
Zimbabwe lost 36-0 to South Africa’s Blitzbokke and were also beaten 36-7 by Uganda.
The camp was organised by Rugby Africa to assist teams from the continent that are preparing for the Olympics as well as the final qualifier for the Tokyo Games. South Africa and Kenya have already secured places to Japan while Zimbabwe as well as Uganda are heading to the final qualifier in Monaco next month.
Zimbabwe Sables squad: Aaron Sawu, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Rufaro Chikwaira, Aiden Burnett, Hilton Mudariki, Sean Beevor, Biselele Tshamala, Jan Ferreira, Sebastian Roche, Blithe Mavesere, Jason Fraser, Shayne Makombe, Bornwill Gwinji, Jason Robertson, Shingirai Katsvere, Brandon Boshi, Keith Chiwara, Simba Mandioma, Boyd Rouse, Kyle Galloway, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, Marcus Nel, Takunda Kundishora, Brendon Mandivenga, Martin Mangongo, Tinashe Hombiro, Darrel Makwasha, Matthew McNab, Tinotenda Msasanure, David Makanda, Takudzwa Chieza, Tonderai Chiwambutsa, Deanne Makoni, Munesu Muneta, Tyran Fagan, Doug Juszczyk, Mungo Mason, Dudlee White-Sharpley, Munopa Muneta, Farai Mudariki, Ngoni Mazarura, Gabriel Sipapate, Riaan O’Neil, George Saungweme, Royal Mwale, Cleopas Kundiona, David Makamba.
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