Story by Anashe Murombedzi
THE Zimbabwe national rugby team, the Sables, have intensified preparations for their highly anticipated encounter against South Africa A by entering camp at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport in South Africa.
The training camp comes on the back of successive victories over Zambia in the “Battle of the Zambezi” and forms a key part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for a demanding international schedule.
The Sables will face South Africa A on June 20 before turning their attention to the World Rugby Nations Cup, which begins in the United States on June 28.
Head coach Pieter Benade has assembled a 31-man squad featuring players drawn from professional clubs across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America, underlining the growing global presence of Zimbabwean rugby talent.
The forward pack includes experienced France-based trio Victor Mupunga, Farai Mudariki and Tijde Visser.
Also included are Spain-based duo Bornwell Gwinji and Simba Siraha, while Bryan Chiang, Dale Lemon and Daniel Cooke bring experience from clubs in the United Kingdom.
The South Africa-based contingent features Gary Porter, Tinotenda Mavesere and Liam Larkan, while locally based players Jeff Makoni, Aiden Burnett, Tadiwanashe Gwashu, Michael Kumbirai and Dylan Utete complete a strong forward unit.
Among the backs, the Sables will look to the creativity and experience of Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, Dion Khumalo, Bruce Houston and Martin Mangongo.
Further depth is provided by South Africa-based trio Keegan Joubert, Tyrone Gombe and Edward Sigauke, alongside domestic players Hilton Mudariki, Brendan Mason, Tatenda Kamubvumbi and Tapiwa Mafura.
The Stellenbosch camp is expected to enhance squad cohesion and fitness levels as Zimbabwe prepares for what is likely to be one of its toughest tests in recent years against a formidable South Africa A outfit.
The fixture will also offer the coaching staff an important opportunity to assess combinations and fine-tune preparations ahead of the World Rugby Nations Cup, where the Sables will be seeking to build on recent progress and continue their upward trajectory on the international stage.
