The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
IN as far as Zimbabwe rugby is concerned, it looks like 27 is the new 19.
Traditionally, the pattern for rugby players should be that they come through school, age-grade, academy or club and then win a pro-contract or make international debuts aged somewhere between 19-21.
But then again, this is Zimbabwe, and more often than not, we like doing things the different and if not the hard way.
Take Zimbabwe international Tyran Edgar Fagan is the latest experiment in Brendan Dawson’s exercise to rebuild the Sables brand.
Only a few months back, at the start of the year to be exact, Fagan’s dream to put on the green and white strip and represent the country of his birth looked to be fledgling.
“The Sables call-up came at the start of the Supersport Rugby Challenge in March, (but) my journey started a couple of months earlier.
“Playing for Zimbabwe has always been a dream of mine, and I remember looking up the Sables’ fixtures at the start of the year (January) and failing to find anything on the internet.
“I figured the team had no fixtures beyond the World Cup fixtures, and I would have to wait a bit longer” Fagan said.
But one phone call changed all that.
“I think it was in March, one evening, when I received a text message from the Sables manager Jason Maritz.
“I did not know who he was and he did not know much about me, I assume, but he called me later and we had a lengthy conversation.
“It is during this conversation, where he explained to me the Sables vision and what they wanted to achieve with the dream.
“I was all-in, and suddenly my prayers had been answered, “he said
And grab the opportunity with both hands, he did.
After making his debut during the Supersport Challenge, Fagan has starred in four Victoria Cup matches, where Zimbabwe are currently unbeaten and just a bonus-point win away from retaining the cup.
Born May 24, 1992, the 27-year-old Sables Loosehead is not your conventional late bloomer.
A swimmer and water polo enthusiast, Fagan did his primary education at Greystone Primary School in Harare after which his family migrated to South Africa in 2003.
He would continue his education in the United Kingdom at a school called Hudson Park, where he first fell in love with the sport somewhere around 2006.
He was in grade 8, at the time, and soon enough his career started to blossom.
In the space of 13 years, from the time first held a rugby ball, Fagan has plied his trade at Sharks Academy, Harlequins in South Africa, Leipzig RC in Germany, Albury in Australia and Kirby Lonsdale in England.
The Sables prop has an Under-19 Champions title with Harlequins (2011), a senior title with Albury (2015) and a North West title Kirby Lonsdale (2016/17)
He is currently plying his trade with Vereeniging Rugby Club, but is soon expected to fly off to Spain, where he will join Bathco Rugby Club.
“Currently, I am playing semi-professional rugby, but the goal is to play at the highest level and the first stepping stone to that is my move to Bathco Rugby Club in Spain,” he said.
Off the pitch; Fagan describes himself as a hardworking, motivated and passionate person, who prefers a nigh-in with the family, except if there is the option of fishing.
Fishing is a real big hobby of his.
