Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS the clock ticks towards the start of next year’s World Cup, the Zimbabwe Rugby union have moved a gear up in their preparations for the event.
ZRU Interim Management Committee (IMC) general manager Takunda “TJ” Chifokoyo is currently in Australia where he hopes to complete logistics related to the Sables stay.
The visit, at the invitation of Australia Rugby, includes stadium, hotel, and training ground visits and inspections.
“What we have been doing is touring the options available to us for hotels or accommodation, training venues, and, of course, touring the actual stadiums that we are going to be playing in.
“We have just completed Adelaide and have just moved over to Townsville, where we will look at the options and locations available there.
“In Adelaide, we had the pleasure of going to the Adelaide Oval, where we will be playing and it is a beautiful complex.
“That is where the Lions had their tour last year and it was really good to get the chance to see the world-class facility that it is.
“We were truly impressed.”
He added: “There are some very impressive training facilities and the accommodation options here are also world-class.
“Really, it is a matter of just getting the right combination of hotel and training venue that are going to complement what the boys are doing.”
World Rugby has just released the schedule for the November block of the Nations Cup. The matches are slated for November 6-21 in Europe and Hong Kong.
Zimbabwe got off to a rocky start, with the Sables going down to Tonga 36-26, the USA 31-15, and Canada 23-19.
They will open their November schedule with a date against Samoa at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in Wakefield, England, on November 7.
They will then play Uruguay at the Trailfinders Sports Ground in Ealing, England, on November 14.
The Sables will stage their designated home matches in England and France.
“We are very excited about the November window coming up,” said Chifokoyo.
“It offers us an opportunity to show that our July results and performances were no fluke. This is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and to step up.
“It is not going to be easy at all. We are not expecting it to be, as it is different weather and conditions from what we are used to and what we faced in July.”
The Nations Cup is meant to give them an annual platform to test themselves against fine opposition, refine systems, and optimise experience ahead of Australia 2027. Following a successful month of July, the USA and Georgia sit top of Pool A and Pool B respectively after recording three wins from three.
However, only Uruguay and Zimbabwe are yet to taste victory after an eventful three rounds, which included the highest-scoring draw in Test history, 42-42, between Canada and Spain, and a victory for Hong Kong China over Uruguay.
The competition has been split into two pools. Pool A, the Americas and Pacific pool, features Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, and the USA.
Pool B, the Europe/Asia/Africa group, comprises Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Zimbabwe.
