Under-18 rugby team goes into camp

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Under-18 schools side today gets together as a team for the first time since the squad was announced when they go into camp at Gateway High in Harare to prepare for the Craven Week Rugby Festival.

Yesterday, coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa and his assistant Graham “Kaulsy” Kaulback, held a session with the back-line players at Prince Edward where they focused on defensive kicking, especially exiting points from their 22-metre box.

However, the duo of winger Tarisai Mapfumo and fly-half Angus Bruce were not able to take to the field as they are both injured, suffering from groin and knee injuries.

The duo are some of the most experienced players in the side having taken part at the 2014 edition of the festival in South Africa.

Bruce was ruled out of their clash against Namibia due to the groin problem.

“It’s worrying when we have injuries to such players in camp because they have experience, having played (in the tournament) last year,” said Murambiwa.

“Mapfumo is likely to join the training (session) on Saturday but, for Bruce, we have to wait for his medical results because his knee injury has been recurring but I don’t think he will be able to train.

“But the boys were looking good today (yesterday), we focused much on defensive kicking because we have to make sure that everyone (backliner) is able to kick from our territory.”

The backliners are expected to link up with the forwards for a full camp at Gateway until Sunday, training twice — in the morning and in the evening — for the next three days.

“We will have a board session in the morning so that the players will have a full understanding of the kind of game plan we are expected to carry out,” said Murambiwa.

“Chivandire (Brighton, the director of rugby) is also expected to have a session with us.

“The camp is going to be a taxing one, a bit complicated because we will also be looking at play protocol in terms of national play.

“We have to make sure that our play is in line with the national game structure or style and that is the reason we are having Chivandire in.

“We are also gong to have a few tests at the beginning of on-field sessions, including flexibility of the players with regards to pace, jumps, lineouts, working together as a team before we split into units.

“Our first training session will be at 9am and the second on each of the days until Sunday will be from 3pm to 5pm.”