Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE will walk back onto rugby’s biggest stage after 36 years and straight into a storm. The Sables have been placed in Pool F with England, Wales and Tonga for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, a group that offers both a brutal test and a moment the country has waited a generation to reclaim.
Their return became real the moment All Blacks great Daniel Carter reached into Band 4 and pulled out Zimbabwe’s name during yesterday’s live draw. It set up a daunting but historic path for a team that earned its place as Africa 1 after winning the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup.
The draw instantly underlined the scale of the challenge ahead. Zimbabwe will meet the 2003 world champions England, Six Nations regulars Wales and a powerful Tonga side. These are established rugby nations who bring pedigree, depth and experience, which makes the Sables’ journey one of the standout stories of the expanded 24-team tournament.
Captain Hilton Mudariki said the group is everything the players dreamed of when they began their push back to the World Cup.
“We knew any pool would be tough at this level, but to draw two of the most iconic names in world rugby, England and Wales, is an incredible opportunity for our team and for the nation,” said Mudariki.
“This is the moment we have worked for. We embrace the challenge of Pool F and look forward to showing the world the potential of Zimbabwean rugby. Every match will be a final for us, and the goal remains to advance in the expanded 24-team format.”
For Zimbabwe, the assignment is steep, but it also comes with a chance to unsettle giants and rekindle memories of their 1987 and 1991 appearances, the country’s last taste of rugby’s top competition. This time, they arrive with momentum, unity and a belief that they can force their way into the knockout rounds.
The 2027 World Cup will be the biggest rugby tournament held, with six pools of four teams and a new Round of 16.
The top two sides from each group and the four best third-place teams will progress to the knockouts. Competition points will determine the qualifiers, followed by points difference and try difference if teams finish level.
2027 Rugby World Cup Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong
Pool B: South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania
Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada
Pool D: Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal
Pool E: France, Japan, USA, Samoa
Pool F: England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe
