adminMehluli Sibanda in Harare
THE Old Mutual Young Sables Under-17 and Under-19 national rugby teams to tour South Africa next month were selected at the conclusion of the Old Mutual-sponsored two-day national trials held at Saint Johns College in Harare on Saturday. Selection of the two junior national teams followed the Under-14 trials which were staged last weekend at Falcon College in Esigodini.
Coached by Godwin Murambiwa, the Under-19 team will participate in the annual Coca Cola Craven Week at Middelburg High School in Mpumalanga from July 14 to 19. For the Douglas Trivella-coached Under-17s, they are heading off to Pretoria for the Grant Khomo Week from July 6 to 10.
Two boys who were part of the team which went to the Coca Cola Craven Week in Polokwane made it again this year. These were Falcon College front rower Stephen Bhasera and Midlands Christian College winger Tawanda Ngosi. Falcon College fullback Sean Snyder, a member of the Under-17 team last year has graduated into the Under-19 side. Another member of the Under-17 last year, Joshua Worsley, the Falcon College flyhalf made it into the Under-19 team as a non travelling reserve player. Worsley picked up a shoulder injury against Christian Brothers College during a Matabeleland trials match last Saturday which saw him being ruled out of the national trials where he could have forced his way into the travelling party.
CBC prop Justin Mendelsohn has followed in the footsteps of brother, winger Bastien who made the Craven Week two years ago while also at CBC.
The announcement of the two teams was attended by Zimbabwe Rugby Union president John Falkenberg, ZRU vice-president Colleen de Jong, head in charge of schools rugby in Zimbabwe Reginald Querl, Old Mutual Shared Services managing director Simon Hammond and Old Mutual Group senior communications consultant Tendai Mutseyekwa. Hammond went on to present prizes in the form of rugby balls to outstanding players in the two age groups.
Zimbabwe national Under-19 squad for Coca-Cola Craven Week in Middelburg, South Africa
Justin Mendelsohn (Christian Brothers College), Lebogang Ngwenya (Saint George’s College), Stephen Bhasera (Falcon College), Godwin Mangeni (Prince Edward), Elijah Snyman (Saint Johns College), Tinashe Gonese (Hillcrest), Cobe Bond (Saint Johns College), Daniel Nyamugama (Saint George’s College), Campbell Nyakudya (Kyle College), Angus Bruce (Saint George’s College), Brian Mhuriyengwe (Falcon College), Matthew Ushewokunze (Falcon College), Tapiwa Mazorodze (Saint George’s College), Tarisai Mapfumo (Saint George’s College), Sean Snyder (Falcon College), Brian Muntanga (Falcon College), Kumbirai Ndaba (Prince Edward), Bradley Crause (Saint Johns College), Geoff Tanatswa (Prince Edward), Ngoni Zinyama (Saint Johns College), Dean McRoberts (Peterhouse), Tawanda Ngosi (Midlands Christian College)
Non travelling reserves: Simbarashe Muza (Heritage), Connor Pritchard (Falcon College), Joshua Worsely (Falcon College), Chemist Madhuku (Ellis Robbins)
Coach: Godwin Murambiwa
Assistant Coach: Brendon Brider
Team Manager: Tunga Mashungu
Zimbabwe national Under-17 squad for Grant Khomo Week in Pretoria, South Africa
Sam Garnet (St Johns College), Cameron Harrison (St Johns College), Tinashe Chaza (Allan Wilson), Daniel Hutchings (Peterhouse), Cuan Zederburg (Peterhouse), Stuart Dodington (Falcon College), Brighton Chinyanya (Vainona), Brent Michelson (Falcon College), Connor McMillan (Peterhouse), Travis Landing (Peterhouse), Rodney Sachiti (Peterhouse), Benjamin Meredith (Falcon College), Rufaro Mpisaunga (St Johns College), Nqobisile Ncube (Prince Edward), Walter Huchu (Peterhouse), Ngoni Moyo (St George’s), Ray Mhute (Falcon College), Tinashe Murevi (Prince Edward), Davis Murwendo (Prince Edward), Sean Himlers (Falcon College), Tinotenda Savanhu (Prince Edward), Matthew McNab (Falcon College), Keith Bruce (Peterhouse), Hugh Meikle (St George’s), Tinashe Chibondo (Prince Edward), Gerry Jaravaza (Hellenic), Benedict Makwarimba (St George’s), Lovejoy Mapfumo (Prince Edward), Adrian Kok (Peterhouse), Vaughn Du Plessis (Hellenic)
Coach: Douglas Trivella,
Assistant Coach: Sebastian Garikai
Team Manager: Shaun De Souza
derick.khumalo