Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Sables’ preparations for the international rugby clash against neighbours Zambia have begun taking shape after their depth was boosted by more arrivals of their foreign legion.
The World Cup-bound Sables will host Zambia at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Some of their key players have been trickling in by the day, widening coach Piet Benade’s selection options.
Following the arrival of tighthead prop Michael Kumbirai last week, the likes of fullback Tapiwa Mafura, Kudakwashe “Goofy” Nyakufaringwa, Liam Larkin and trialist David Erwes have also joined camp this week.
After Saturday’s match Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Grounds, Zimbabwe and Zambia will battle it out again for the Second Test at Hartsfield in Bulawayo on May 2.
Despite being the stronger side on paper, the Sables are not underestimating their opponents.
“Zambia have been great rivals and great friends of ours for some time, and we are looking forward to matching up against them yet again,” said Ricky Chirengende, the Sables assistant coach.
“We would love to see their rugby grow and always jump at the opportunity to play them.
“When their rugby improves, ours improves as well and, as such, we are always willing to come up against each other, help each other learn and get better.
“So, yeah, we very much looking forward to the next two Test matches.
“We are friends but also fierce competitors and fierce rivals as well.
“When we get on the field, we always push each other for excellence,” he said.
Chirengende also spoke about the return to Hartsfield.
“It’s always exciting to go back to that venue as it is really the home of Zimbabwe rugby.
“A lot of rugby has been played there, and Matabeleland is a heartbeat and a vital cog in the Sables.
“I think you will be hard-pressed to find any Sable team that didn’t have strong representation from Matabeleland.
“So it’s nice that we are going back there.
“The game is going to get a lot of people excited about rugby in that region again.
“It is fully deserved and it is about time.”
It is unfortunate that the upcoming Zambia clash and Hartsfield return will likely go down as footnote as the World Rugby Nations Cup remains the main target.
Zimbabwe have been busy preparing for their Nations Cup opener against Tonga on July 4, and everything that comes is part of their preparations for the country’s return to the World Cup.
This includes the match-ups against Zambia and later South Africa A in June.
The Sables are likely to look different against Zambia this weekend following the arrivals of Kumbirai, Mafura and Nyakufariwa.
Another new face that has been added to the ever-growing squad is David Ewers.
Born November 3, 1990, Ewers is a back-rower, who is also at home at number eight.
He attended Hillcrest Preparatory School in Mutare before his family left Zimbabwe when he was 13, to move to the United Kingdom.
It is in the UK that his rugby career took off, playing for Exeter Chiefs from 2010 to 2023.
Ewers made 226 appearances for the Chiefs and scored 40 tries.
He also won Premiership titles in 2017 and 2020 and the European Champions Cup in 2020.
Ewers had stints at Ulster before joining the Stormers in 2024.
“The preparations have been good,” said Chirengende.
“We had a scrimmage match over the weekend, which was good as every player got to play.
“We’ have also had quite a few guys jet in over the last couple of days with Nyamufaringwa, Liam Larkin, Mafura all back.
“Mafura, obviously, didn’t get much game time this past season it will be good for him to get some much-needed action.
“We also have a new guy, David Ewers, who’s also come in and we hope to see what he has.
“We hope to use the Zambia matches as an opportunity to look at players and to give some of the other guys a run,” he said.
