Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union (ZRU) president, Losson Mtongwiza said that the senior men’s national team, the Sables, have some international matches lined up as part of their preparations for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda in July.
The Africa Cup serves as the direct qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Sables are on a quest to book their ticket to the global showpiece, their first appearance since 1991.
Mtongwiza told Zimpapers Sports Hub last week that they are working to also rope in the United States of America (USA) Under-23s, among other matches lined up. He added that there are other matches earmarked for Hartsfield Rugby Grounds in Bulawayo in their schedule.
“We have got a couple of games that are lined up. We have got a couple of games, home and away against Zambia.
We will play Botswana, we will play UAE and we are pushing to play USA Under-23 as well in June. We are hoping to bring in Limpopo Blue Bulls or Loftus 200 and that will be our second game in Bulawayo if we can get that game,” said Mtongwiza.
The draw for the Africa Cup was made last month with the Sables placed in a pool with some of Africa’s top teams – Morocco, Kenya and Uganda. Zimbabwe enters the tournament – scheduled for July 20-28 – as defending champions, starting their campaign at the quarter-final stage against Morocco, the winners of the Africa Cup Repechage.
The second quarter-final in Pool A will feature a blockbuster derby between Kenya and Uganda. The winners of these two matches will meet in the first semi-final.
In the other pool, Namibia will kick off their Africa Cup campaign against Senegal, while Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire will square off in the other last-eight match.
As the defending champions, Zimbabwe are the top seed for this year’s tournament, having won the Africa Cup last year for the first time in 12 years.
Zimbabwe were the first African team to compete in the Rugby World Cup, participating in the inaugural tournaments in 1987 and 1991, before Namibia overtook them. South Africa also made their World Cup debut in 1995, a tournament they hosted and won.
Since 1991, Zimbabwe has not returned to the global stage, with World Cup qualification now remaining a top priority for the ZRU. — @brandon_malvin.
