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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
LOOKING back into the year 2022 which is about to end, Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) vice president south, Martin Shone believes the Young Sables Barthes Trophy victory was an indication of the bright future the country possesses.
The Young Sables, coached by Shaun De Souza showed great spirit to triumph in the championship in which they had last won in 2011. Zimbabwe floored Namibia 19-14 in Nairobi, Kenya.
“The junior teams have been the most successful. Judging from the Craven Week teams, we have beaten Namibia in the Under-18s.
“We won the Under-20 Barthes against Namibia. They are ranked as the best team in Africa outside of South Africa. That feat on its own is an indication that our future is bright. Obviously, we need to start playing more games and that’s the only way we can keep the guys together and grow the game with the Under-20s.
“For us to beat Namibia means our base is strong. We just have to make sure we keep these young teams together such that they grow together till they play for the Sables as a unit. Going forward we have started trying to defend the Barthes Trophy. It is always difficult to defend a trophy but we have already initiated preparations for that,” said Shone.
Meanwhile, ZRU has promised improved seasonal contracts with more competitions for national teams next year.
The senior team is expected to host several tournaments on home soil.
ZRU has since confirmed that the country’s flagship team, the Sables, will once again play in South Africa’s premier competition, the Currie Cup.
The Sables are set to get into more competitive action as there are plans in place to bring back a revamped Victoria Cup, with World Rugby being extensively involved.
For the first time, ZRU offered players seasonal contracts as a way to professionalise the sport.
The year that is about to end will be remembered for the disappointment of Zimbabwe missing out once again on qualification for the Rugby World Cup. Coached by Brendan Dawson, the Sables finished a disappointing fourth in the Rugby Africa Cup held in France where Namibia secured the continent’s ticket to next year’s global showpiece in the European country.
At the Rugby World Cup Sevens held in Cape Town, South Africa in September, Zimbabwe finished 23 out of 24 men’s teams. They won once, 31-17 over Jamaica. — @ innocentskizoe
Online Reporter