Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S World Cup-bound Sables could play before their home supporters in October, a month before staging all three of their Nations Cup “home” matches in England.
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) interim management committee is negotiating with Germany and Chile over possible Tests in Zimbabwe in October.
Any fixture would prepare the Sables for their November matches against Samoa, Uruguay and Chile, while giving local supporters an opportunity to watch the national team in person.
“The November international window is just around the corner,” said ZRU general manager Takunda “TJ” Chifokoyo.
“Competitive game time is also important, and the direction we are leaning towards right now is to bring more matches home.
“We are in discussions with Germany and Chile for a local Test.”
An October fixture would also give the technical team another opportunity to assess fringe players and widen the selection pool ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
“We want to broaden our pool,” Chifokoyo said. “It is important that some of the fringe players get a few looks and the opportunity to play quality Tier Two opposition.”
The bid for home Tests comes as financial challenges continue to frustrate ZRU’s proposed revival of the Victoria Cup.
The union had hoped the regional competition would involve Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya, but Chifokoyo admitted funding remained the biggest hurdle.
“Resources remain our biggest obstacle, but we are still actively pushing the tournament,” he said.
“The Victoria Cup is important to us, and I believe it needs to be a staple of the calendar regardless.”
Chifokoyo believes Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualification should also benefit regional rugby by encouraging regular competition with Kenya, Namibia and Uganda.
The need for more competitive matches was underlined during Zimbabwe’s July Nations Cup campaign.
The Sables lost 36-26 to Tonga, 31-15 to the United States and 23-19 to Canada after suffering a 40-0 defeat to South Africa A.
Chifokoyo, who travelled with the team, believes the tour gave both the players and administrators an early look at the standards they must meet before the World Cup.
“I thought it was a fantastic opportunity for Zimbabwe Rugby to expose our Sables players to a high level of competitive rugby, especially as we build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup,” he said.
“Ordinarily, our calendar does not allow us to have this quality of matches this early, given that we are still at least another 14 months away from the World Cup.
“We have already got three high-quality games under our belts, four if you count the match against South Africa A, and we have another three coming in November.”
The results exposed areas that require attention both on and off the field.
ZRU’s review of the tour has covered the team’s preparation, player welfare and training programme.
“There were definitely some areas where we could have done better,” Chifokoyo said.
“Now, it is about how we respond, and more game time will see the team improve.
“We want more competitive opposition outside the July and November windows because that gives us an opportunity to put those lessons into practice.”
ZRU also wants the Sables to face Tier One opposition before travelling to Australia for the World Cup.
“Next year, we will want a match or two against Tier One nations,” Chifokoyo said.
“That will give other players an opportunity to wear the jersey and show what they are capable of.
“It only adds to our depth, as we saw against South Africa A, when we were able to look at more players than we ordinarily would during the July window.”
Zimbabwe resume their Nations Cup campaign against Samoa on November 6 before facing Uruguay on November 14 and Chile seven days later.
The venues and kick-off times have not yet been announced.
Zimbabwe are bottom of the combined Europe, Africa and Asia pool with two bonus points from three matches.
Georgia lead with 14 points, two ahead of Portugal.
Before those designated “home” matches in England, ZRU wants the Sables to play in front of the people they will represent at the World Cup.
“We want to give the fans the opportunity to watch and support their team live and not merely as spectators from a television set,” Chifokoyo said.
