Story by Mthokozisi Dube
THE Zimbabwe Under-14 rugby team is targeting valuable development gains at this year’s Craven Week festival in South Africa as preparations gather momentum for the prestigious schools rugby tournament later this month.
The Junior Sables will join teams from across the region at the renowned competition in Bloemfontein, which is widely regarded as Africa’s premier schools rugby showcase.
Zimbabwe has become a regular participant at Craven Week and is increasingly using the tournament not only as a competitive platform but also as an opportunity to strengthen its own rugby development structures.
The country’s rugby administrators and coaches are keen to draw lessons from South Africa’s highly regarded development system, which has consistently produced elite players and contributed to the success of the Springboks on the international stage.
Preparations for the tournament intensified following the selection of the national Under-14 squad in Harare, with coaches expressing confidence in the quality of talent available.
Zimbabwe Under-14 assistant coach, Reuben Kumpasa, believes this year’s squad has the potential to improve on previous performances.
“We selected the team last weekend in Harare and there is a lot of talent. I believe this year’s squad is stronger than last year’s. The players continue to improve and we are hopeful of producing a better performance this year,” he said.
Kumpasa said Craven Week remains a critical component of Zimbabwe’s rugby development pathway, offering young players exposure to high-level competition at an early stage of their careers.
“It is a very important opportunity because it creates a strong development pathway for us. Some of the players who have participated at Craven Week since 2022 are now representing national teams. The pathway is effective because it exposes the boys to quality rugby and they return home with valuable experience and lessons,” he said.
The 2026 Craven Week tournament will run from 27 June to 3 July in Bloemfontein, where Zimbabwe’s young rugby players will test themselves against some of the region’s top emerging talent while continuing their progression through the national development system.
