ZRU establish links with SA

From Percival Sizara in Durban, South Africa
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union president Nyararai Sibanda has had discussions with three South African provinces to establish bilateral relations meant to strengthen and help the development of the game’s structures back home.

Sibanda, who is part of the proceedings at the Craven Week at Kearsney College, has had talks with representatives from the Western Province, KwaZulu Natal and Free State for there to be links with the ZRU.

“It would be premature but surely that it is on the board, I have invited provinces to motivate their schools to tour, their universities to tour, their army and police to tour and all the structures that they have in rugby.

“We are targeting three provinces at the moment and those provinces have said ‘it is a positive thing to take’. They are going back to their provinces to sell the idea and encourage everyone to come up.” Last February, Zimbabwe hosted South African Super Rugby giants, the Vodacom Blue Bulls and Toyota Cheetahs, in Harare courtesy of Kyros Sports and later Steval Pumas. These developments are believed to have laid a foundation to the promotion of tours by top South African rugby provinces.

The ZRU boss also indicated that he has made an application for Zimbabwe to be included in the South African Academy Week for the first time possibly starting next year. This year, the Academy Week is running concurrently with the Craven Week. This is meant to expose budding talent to competitive rugby at the same time creating a wider pool of players for the national age group teams with there being plans for a Zimbabwe A and Under 23.

“We need to put in a side. We want to just increase and make sure that we have a bigger base for players and more participation.” Sibanda also commented on the Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 side’s performances in the two games played citing that strength and conditioning and preparation among other things contributed to the varying results.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe won their first game 16-9 against Griquas Rural before being walloped 78-5 by Griquas in what was one of the Young Sables’ heaviest defeats at the Craven Week.

“My thoughts are piece meal. Obviously you saw that the strength and conditioning is an issue. Like I have said with all the teams I need to be convinced that selection was exhaustive.