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ZIMBABWE Rugby Union have announced the strategic plan for their senior men, women and junior national teams.
During a presentation to journalists and other stakeholders at their Alexandra Park offices yesterday, ZRU vice-president, Collen de Jong, said they have been making full use of their High Performance Centre since September last year.
On top of the priority list for the Sables is the plan to widen the national squad for the World Cup qualifiers, where success will potentially convert Zimbabwe from an amateur member of the international Rugby Union into a professional one.
The Sables will plunge into the World Cup qualifiers at the end of June and the squad will go into camp in May.
Kenya and Namibia stand as serious obstacles in the Sables’ quest to qualify for the 2015 World Cup.
The Sables are expected to tour South Africa franchises Limpopo Blue Bulls, Bulls Development and the Valke as part of their preparations for the World Cup qualifiers.
There is also a tour of Namibia on the cards while a top European rugby club, whose identity cannot be revealed for now, is expected to tour this country for some matches.
The women’s sevens team, previously known as the Pangolins, will be re-branded the Lady Cheetahs and most of the players will make up the 15s team that will represent Zimbabwe in the Africa Cup in April.
Junior sides will have a more active 2014 as a new Inter-schools sevens league will be introduced from the beginning of March to the last week of April to help select potential players for future Cheetahs sides.
It will be followed by the Africa Youth Games in May, the Under-13 Craven Week, Under-16 Grant Khomo and Under-19 Craven Week in June and July.
The ZRU will hold two annual general meetings this weekend at Prince Edward School, the women’s AGM tomorrow and the men’s AGM on Sunday morning.
The ZRU will present their annual report, which include audited financial statements, for 2013.
Online Reporter