ZRU in development drive

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union have embarked on a major development and revival programme to ensure the game spreads to rural communities which have largely been marginalised over the years.

Cities and towns that include Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Zvishavane and Mutare have been the most active rugby centres, providing the national teams with most of the players, but the ZRU now want to change that.

Yesterday, ZRU general manager Sifiso Made told The Herald they have set up a plan to make sure they develop rugby, especially in rural schools, and so far they have trained 137 schoolteachers who attained World Rugby Level One coaching certificates.

The most active developmental platform is the Old Mutual Community Cup that is largely centred in Harare and Bulawayo but Made feels there is need to also expose the rural pupils.

And yesterday, Made was on the road to Chiredzi as part of the development schedule.

“Chiredzi is one of the places we are visiting and in Masvingo so far we have trained at least 120 teachers in Level One coaching.

“We are mainly targeting schools because they are the easier centres for us to start developing the game in rural areas.

“We have trained teachers from Zaka, Gutu, Bikita and other parts of Masvingo and last week (director of rugby) Bright (Chivandire) was in Mutare where a total of 10 teachers took part including four female coaches,” said Made.

The ZRU also hope to develop the game in former rugby strongholds and mining towns such as Hwange who used to be the home of a powerful team called Hwange Diggers.

“The good thing about the teachers we are training for Level One is that they would have done pre-requisite courses such as Rugby Ready and First Aid for Rugby because we want to make sure they are competitive and up to standard from the start.

“Schools are the ideal places for us to build bases from if we are to develop rugby structures throughout Zimbabwe and that is the way we are going to do it throughout all the provinces,” said Made.

Currently, Harare, Manicaland, Bulawayo and Midlands are the only active provinces with ZRU-approved structures and boards.