Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
WITH so little time, Zimbabwe rugby international forward George Saungweme has barely had time to soak in life in France.
The flanker, together with Sables star Shayne Makombe, recently signed for French Federal 1 club Saint-Denis.
He has been in France for a little over a month.
During that time, he has been pulling double duty for his new club and Kauno Azulous in the Baltic Cup.
“As you might be aware, I left Zimbabwe after the Burkina Faso games (World Cup qualifiers) with the intention of taking part in the Baltic Cup in Lithuania en-route to France,” said Saungweme.
“Unfortunately, the tournament had a few delays and only ends this Saturday (yesterday).
“My team Kauno Azulous has made it all the way to the final, and I have been pulling double duty playing for both my new club Saint-Denis and wrapping up my contractual obligations at the Baltic Cup.”
His priority remains upping his game to make the Sables team for next year’s Rugby Africa Cup tournament and possibly the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The fact that both tournaments will be held in France, starting with the finals of the Rugby Africa Cup in January, has served to reinforce Saungweme’s ambitions.
“With the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers (Rugby Africa Cup) having moved to France, just like I did, it has only reinforced my plans.
“The World Cup was one of the reasons why I moved here from Spain, as playing professional rugby will go a long way into making me a well-rounded and more complete player.
“I am working as hard as I can to make the squad and would love to make the team for both tournaments.”
The flanker added that he is putting much of his energy into adjusting to his new environment.
He described the process as “quite the culture shock” with the obvious language barrier, fashion sense in Paris and weather.
“Moving to France has not been all that rosy.
“I was in Sevilla, which is one of the hottest parts of Europe, and now we are approaching winter here in France.
“The temperatures are starting to drop and it’s getting colder and colder by the day.
“I was used to the warm weather, the Mediterranean kind of weather, and now have had to adjust.
“The French love their food and fashion sense.
“They dress up so well and I was used to the more casual sports attires and have also had to adjust that.
“The language barrier is another thing, as I was accustomed to English and Spanish and now have to start learning French,” he said.
He is, however, loving being within a professional set-up.
Apart from match days with Saint-Denis, who have so far lost their last three games, Saungweme’s time is divided between the gym and two training sessions in the morning and evening.
“Moving to a more professional set-up has definitely helped my game.
“Everything is now more detailed and there is more time for the different facets of the game.
“If the coach decides that we are working on scrumming today, we have something close to two hours.
“This is opposed to amateur leagues where people train after work and have to do crash programmes,” he said.
In the month or so he has been in France, he hasn’t had the time to do a lot of sight-seeing and take in some of Paris’ attractions like the Musée du Louvre, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris or the bustling boulevards and legendary cafés.
Instead, he is greeted by the Stade De France every morning, as the venue is located opposite his apartment.
Home to Pro14 outfit Stade Frances, the stadium will be one of the venues of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Australia and the winner of Europe 1, Ireland, South Africa and Scotland will play their games there.
The stadium also acts as a daily reminder to the Sables forward’s ultimate goal every morning.
The 28-year-old says almost half the people in France have been vaccinated.
Only vaccinated players are allowed to play and Covid-19 antigen tests certificates, which are only valid for 48 hours, have to be produced.
Fans are now allowed into the stadiums, as long as they show the vaccination pass or antigen test results.
With fans now allowed back, the Sables could find themselves playing in front of huge crowds when they travel to France.
Online Reporter