Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union (ZRU) president Losson Mtongwiza has stated that the senior men’s national rugby team, the Sables, will receive the best possible preparation ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup, which is set to take place in Uganda this July.
The upcoming Africa Cup will serve as a direct qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the Sables striving to secure their place at the global tournament in Australia. This will mark their first World Cup appearance since 1991.
Mtongwiza made the comments during an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub while visiting Bulawayo, where he attended the first derby of the season between Old Miltonians (OMs) and Matabeleland Warriors Under-20 teams at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Saturday.
The ZRU president emphasised that no effort would be spared to ensure the Sables are thoroughly prepared for their trip to East Africa. Several matches have been lined up for the team, and Mtongwiza assured that everything is being done to ensure the players are ready for the challenges they will face in Uganda.
“The preparations have already begun early. The boys are in the gym. For the month of February, they were increasing their training sessions to twice a week on the field. In March, they will take part in the Nedbank Challenge, and they will also play Zambia both home and away.
“They will face Botswana, the UAE, and the USA Under-23 team before we bring in all the professionals. By then, we will be ready for Uganda. We are very aware of the conditions that await us there, and we are prepared. The players are putting in the effort to ensure that, by the time we arrive in Uganda, there will be no excuses,” said Mtongwiza.
A fortnight ago, the draw for the Africa Cup was made, with the Sables placed in a pool with some of Africa’s top teams – Morocco, Kenya, and Uganda. Zimbabwe enters the tournament – scheduled for 20-28 July – as defending champions, starting their campaign at the quarter-final stage against Morocco, the winners of the Africa Cup Repechage.
The second quarter-final in Pool A will feature a blockbuster derby between Kenya and Uganda. The winners of these two matches will meet in the first semi-final.
In the other pool, Namibia will kick off their Africa Cup campaign against Senegal, while Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire will square off in the other last-eight match.
As the defending champions, Zimbabwe are the top seed for this year’s tournament, having won the Africa Cup last year for the first time in 12 years.
Morocco, meanwhile, secured their spot in the tournament after defeating fellow North Africans Tunisia 26-12 in the Repechage final two weeks ago at Pere Jego Stadium in Casablanca. The Repechage final was a last-chance play-off to determine the final team for the Rugby Africa Cup, as Morocco did not qualify directly in the earlier round.
Zimbabwe were the first African team to compete in the Rugby World Cup, participating in the inaugural tournaments in 1987 and 1991, before Namibia overtook them. South Africa also made their World Cup debut in 1995, a tournament they hosted and won.
Since 1991, Zimbabwe has not returned to the global stage, with World Cup qualification now remaining a top priority for the ZRU. – @brandon_malvin.
