adminMehluli Sibanda
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Junior Sables are headed for South Africa at the end of the month as they get ready for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy to be staged in Harare next month.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire disclosed that the initial plan was for the team to travel across the Limpopo River during the Easter holidays but that had to change their plans.
“Our Under-20 leave for South Africa on 31 March, that is the plan we have for now, they will be there for four to five days, we had planned to go over Easter but we had to change that because the teams we wanted to play against were not available. The number of players we are taking depend on what transport and accommodation will be available but we have over 55 players who can still make the team,’’ said Chivandire.
Initially, the Junior Sables were meant to take on the Bulls Under-20 and the University of Johannesburg but now have to look for alternative opposition in the Gauteng province.
On how the preparations have progressed so far, Chivandire expressed satisfaction with how things have gone so far. Coach Brendon Brider is expected to name his final squad of 26 players after the visit to South Africa.
Zimbabwe, who qualified as the host nation have been drawn in pool A where they will play against
Fiji, Samoa and Uruguay. The first three match days of the competition are slated for Harare Sports Club on 19, 23 and 27 April while the final day of the tournament will see matches being staged at the National Sports Stadium on 1 May.
Online Reporter