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Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union say they aim to build on the Junior Sables’ improved performance at the just-ended World Trophy Under-20 Trophy in Kenya where the youth side finished fifth.
The team arrived home yesterday afternoon after a two-week tournament in which they secured their best finish in the second-tier competition.
Zimbabwe have participated five times in the competition and were seventh in the 2010 and 2012 editions while in 2011 and 2016 they finished eighth.
So, the ZRU vice-president Martin Shonhe was naturally excited that they surpassed their previous performances in this year’s edition.
Although the Junior Sables’ target was to finish at the top, the team was satisfied they were able to dust themselves and still compete effectively.
“We are very excited about finishing fifth. Obviously we would have been happier finishing above that but this is the best finish that has been achieved by any Under-20 side from Zimbabwe.
“It means that we are doing something positive, we are going from strength to strength. We have defended the Barthes Trophy and we are the best-ranked team in Africa outside South Africa,” said Shonhe.
He said they will build from the gains made in this year’s competitions to ensure the current crop of junior players realise their full potential.
“This means that the future is bright for Zimbabwe Rugby. It means that we are grooming a crop of players that can then move from being Under-20s to the next level Under-23 Goshawks Sables using that same conveyor belt.
“The ones that are out of contention of the Under-20s will then graduate to the next level, the Goshawks and so forth,” he said.
Shonhe added that the players that are still eligible will form the core of next year’s team and harness more upcoming players so that they include a formidable side.
“The upcoming players will keep them busy. We will have to arrange a few games and tournaments for them to continue playing throughout.
“We will start again preparing for the Barthes tournament and other tournaments that will come up. For now, we are going to enjoy the moment and celebrate for it is a win for everyone,” he said.
Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza also said they would want to build on this performance and qualify again for the tournament.
“We go back to the drawing board and build. Now we build for the top four and hopefully qualify for next year,” he said.
“Overall, the team did well. I think our off-field planning definitely got us into a good stage. It all went according to plan after the first plan fell apart when we lost our first two games to Scotland and Uruguay.
Zimbabwe in their opener against Scotland lost 64 – 33. They then lost again to Uruguay 51-14 before they rescued the campaign with a victory against the USA 38-37 to book a fifth-place play-off with Kenya.
The Junior Sables put up a superb show to hammer the hosts 64 – 10 on Sunday.
Online Reporter