Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT might have finally sunk in that Zimbabwe are going to the 2027 Rugby World Cup but that has not stopped the Sables from continuing with their victory parades across many centres.
The Zimbabwe Sables recently made a pit stop to the Paramount Rugby match day 12 and the CBZ Schools Rugby league festivities, where they paid tribute to Churchill High and Prince Edward School for their contributions to the cause.
The Paramount Rugby League is where most of their Sables ply their club game, while the squad is dominated by Churchill and Prince Edward former students.
The two institutions also happen to be amongst the top rugby schools in the country, shaping the early careers of many players and administrators, both past and present.
It was a gesture well received by all, with Paramount Garments’ director, Jeremy Youmas, beaming with pride up-on the Sables arrival at Old Georgians, the venue of last Saturday’s club action.
“Oh, it is fantastic,” said Youmas, on the Sables qualification for the World Cup.
“I mean, when we first started with the sponsorship, to set up the leagues around the country, our aim was to create a structure and a platform to allow the talent to rise to the top and then enable them to shine.
“In that time, since the sponsorship, we have had the Zimbabwe Under-20s crowned African champions and now the senior team qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 34 years.
“We are now back-to-back Africa Cup champions, meaning we have qualified for the Rugby World Cup and now even exceed our dreams,” he said.
Youmas revealed that plans are in store on the sponsorship of the local league.
“When you build a house, you must start with the foundation.
“The stronger the foundation is, the stronger the final product is.
“So far, we are happy with sponsorship and what we have managed to achieve so far.
“However, I think there’s some more targets we can still achieve.
“We would like to keep it (sponsorship) going,’’ Youmas said.
“We are currently in negotiations with the regions on how we can go and what is needed to get us to the next level.
“We would like to be a part of it going forward and see. I mean, there is a chance to qualify for the Women’s World Cup as well.
The Sables also made a stopover at the CBZ Schools league action which was headlined by the Derby-Day showdown between hosts Churchill and Prince Edward.
The Churchill Bulldogs completed a season double with statement 29-7 victory over the Prince Edward Tigers.
Lomagundi, who have been having a fine season, St John’s College and Eaglesvale also emerged winners.
St John’s College edged St George’s College 29-27 and Wise Owl went 37-20 to Kutama College, Eaglesvale thumped Hillcrest College 39-5 while Falcon overcame Peterhouse Boys 29-20. Lomagundi kept their purple patch via a narrow 28-27 win over CBC, Plumtree won the bragging rights over Milton with a 15-15 victory and Watershed triumphed 34-15 over MCC.
However, the main attraction was the Churchill and Prince Edward clash, which the Sables went to watch, albeit with opposing loyalties.
Even the neutrals like Sables skipper Hilton Mudariki appeared excited at the match-up.
“If we can take time out of our schedules just to go and support schoolboy rugby and inspire them to want to become Sables’ rugby players then that is a good thing for us,” said Mudariki. “I grew up watching Prince Edward and Churchill play when I was younger, every time I came home from South Africa.
“It’s definitely still a big schoolboy fixture, one of the biggest in Zimbabwe and we enjoyed ourselves.
“So, to be part of that today was special and for Sables to also be here supporting was an honour,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by two Sables and former Prince Edward students in Takudzwa Musingwini and Dion Khumalo.
“From my days as a Form 1 right up to my A-Level, it has always been a big game for us,” Khumalo
“It has always been a big rivalry.
“I remember, when I first arrived at Prince Edward, we were literally told that PE and Churchill is the biggest game.
“And, as youngsters, we’ were always looking forward to it, to see how big it was and how like the camaraderie was at that time.
Musingwini added;” I remember we were talking in Uganda and we had many discussions about the match ups with the other Sables and Churchill guys like Mashawi (Kudzi)
“We always argued about which is the bigger and better rugby school and team.
“Of course, we could never agree but it is something that is ongoing and fun-banter,” he said.
