Story by Anashe Murombedzi, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby national team, the Sables returned home this Monday to a rousing welcome at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after being crowned Rugby Africa Cup champions in Uganda at the weekend.
Scores of fans, relatives, sponsors and Zimbabwe Rugby Union officials turned up at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport overjoyed to welcome the Sables after winning the Rugby Africa Cup.
The excitement was palpable as the team showed off their trophy.
“We are so proud of our team for making us African champions!” said one of the fans.
The Sables’ journey to victory was highlighted by their impressive semi-final win against Namibia, their biggest triumph in 23 years.
The team then went on to clinch the championship with a convincing 29-3 win against Algeria in the final.
Sables Captain, Hilton Mudariki emphasised the need to continue working hard to qualify for the global stage.
“We are not resting on our laurels we have more tournaments to play and we need to keep pushing ourselves to achieve our goals,” he said.
The team’s sponsors highlighted the importance of sponsorship in promoting the development of the team.
“We are proud to support the Sables and contribute to their success,” said Nedbank Zimbabwe senior Brand and Marketing Manager, Joel Gombera.
The Sables’ victory has secured Zimbabwe a top seed for next year’s competition, which will act as the main qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
