Zimbabwe women’s rugby to benefit from summit

FORMER Matabeleland female rugby player, Nothando Ndlovu, who is now a match official, was among four Zimbabweans who attended the World Rugby Impact Beyond 2025 Summit in Cape Town on Saturday.

Rugby Afrique is keen on the sport’s survival and sustenance beyond the next 12 months and organised the event which drew participants from several countries in the continent.

Zimbabwe was represented by Sikhumbuzo Muchenje, Regina Mwanandiwa, Catherine Shurugwi and Ndlovu.
Women’s rugby is showing signs of potential to grow in Zimbabwe and is expected to gain from the quartet’s participation.
The officials got a chance to watch one of their own, Precious Pazani, officiating in a match pitting South Africa and Australia at the WXV2 Stadium in Cape Town.

**Zimbabwe women’s rugby’s match official Nothando Ndlovu, Sikhumbuzo Mchenje**

Ndlovu described the event as an eye opener, saying if they put everything they learnt into practice, there will be lots of changes to Zimbabwe women’s rugby.
Ndlovu is also a match official educator, anti-doping representative and a rugby coach.

“It’s going to change a lot of things. We learnt a lot, especially about organising, and recruiting.
“There was so much to learn from the other top playing nations in Africa about planning and organising,” said Ndlovu.
Participants were drawn from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar and Tunisia.