Barbarians in town

yesterday for an historic tour, pregnant with a host of political sub-plots, that will shame those crying out for the isolation of this country.
It’s the first tour by the British Barbarians Under-18 side in 13 years and breaks all the barriers that had been erected between Zimbabwe and British sport since a diplomatic row between the two countries centred on politics.
The schoolboys have managed to do what their national cricketers failed during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when they pulled out of a visit to Harare, claiming that their lives were at risk.
Scotland also pulled out of a cricket tour to Zimbabwe last year, under pressure from the British Government, but Ireland came and played three ODIs. New Zealand also sent their A cricket team to Zimbabwe last year.
Edwin Doran, who is part of the British Barbarians and is also the tour organiser, said it was the negative publicity, and the long time they have not been in Zimbabwe, that made them decide to come here.
“Donald Campbell, a long time friend of mine, approached me and came up with the idea of touring Zimbabwe and I had no reason to reject and we made contact with St Johns College here and the trip passed. A number of parents were reluctant to have their boys on this tour because of the (bad) picture they get from overseas but things are completely different.
“I am sure the boys are really going to enjoy because they will be adopted into host families where they will get to explore the local culture and the warmth of the Zimbabwean families.
“I am sure it will be a great experience, one never to be forgotten, and this tour will also serve as an example that Zimbabwe is safe and hopefully will open the way for other countries to come here.

“We had a lot of teams coming here in the past and the main reason we are here is because we have not been here in a long time and we want to show the world out there that Zimbabwe is not what they think.
“I am very sad about what young people from this country are saying about Zimbabwe when they are in England.
“You would think Zimbabwe does not exist anymore but then the question comes . . . how do the 10 million people here live?”
The British Barbarians Under-18 side are expected to take on four local sides of equal strength starting with a date against Harare Lions – a provincial side based in the capital – at Prince Edward School today.
The match kicks-off at 4pm.
From there the Independent British Schools’ side will also play a Districts side in Chinhoyi on Monday, Zimbabwe Under-19 at St Johns College on Wednesday before completing their tour with a game against the Goshawks Schools at the same venue on Friday.
Coach Hugo Colbert is looking forward to a different challenge and believes Zimbabwe sides will expose his army to a high standard of the game.
He also wants to have fun.
“It is a great opportunity to be here and play the local side because we will be exposed to different types of play and styles and play rugby like we have always loved to.
“We are here to throw the ball around and play an entertaining form of rugby though we are going into the unknown since we do not know what to expect from the teams here.
“We do not know what to expect because the last side to come here was a long time ago but somehow we know it is going to be exciting and we are expecting a high standard of game from Zimbabwe.
“We played three games in England where we rotated the boys so that we would give them all a chance to play before coming here.
“We are excited about the tough schedule as we are going to play four games in a space of seven days and everyone in the team is looking forward to that.”
With the British used to playing in wet conditions, rain will be an advantage to them but captain Jacob Poulton is not looking forward to the heavens opening up.
“Well we are used to the fluid type of the game and we can handle the ball well in wet conditions but we are praying for plenty of sunshine.
“Back in England everything is very competitive and we have been looking forward to this tour and have always wished to play together as a team in the good spirit of the game.
“The people here are very friendly and we do not get that in England and it has been a bit of shock on my side because it is completely the opposite of what we expected.
“The situation is just different from what we have at home, a different culture and different people.
“It has been a long journey, we do not know the team (Harare Lions) we will play but obviously we are definitely looking for a win,” said Poulton.
So excited about the tour were the British and moments after touching down, their prop Sam Saunders said his side was looking forward to the challenge and fun.
“It has been a long journey but nevertheless we are looking forward to the game tomorrow (today). We had a tough time as we prepared for this tour but we are hopeful that it will be fun and quite fascinating.
“I am looking forward to the game but I think it is going to be tough and the challenge will be very big and we will have to take on whatever comes our way and play our rugby,” said the Baarbas prop.
Another forward Charlie Tokeley, who is a lock, believes Zimbabwe will also benefit from the tour adding that the side never got to train as a team.
“It is also good especially looking at the fact that this will help Zimbabwe rugby both in play and exposing them to a different style of play.
“We really never got to train but we would group up sometime and play a number of games especially towards the end of the season. It is wonderful to be in Zimbabwe, we are all happy and there is a whole lot of difference in what we expected because the people here are welcoming and very friendly.
“We are looking forward to the stay,” said Tokeley.
The last British Barbarians schools side to tour Zimbabwe was before the turn of the millennium and it has taken 13 years for the side to come back to Zimbabwe.