The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
AS rugby braces for its much-anticipated return, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) offices have been a hive of activity, with chief executive officer Sifiso Made fine-tuning events that will get underway this month.
The union have made the resumption of the local league — slated for the end of the month — as one of its major priorities.
Made has also been trying to get game time for the women’s Sevens side, the Lady Cheetahs, who are due to travel to Kenya.
The team have accepted an offer to take part in the Safari Sevens later this month.
ZRU are also open to hosting the Women Sevens’ World Cup qualifiers.
World Rugby are yet to decide an official venue and dates.
“We have been busy running around long before Government announced the return of sport.
“As you might be aware, we successfully hosted Zambia in two friendlies and then hosted Burkina Faso in the Rugby Africa Cup Group D fixtures.
“Now the main priority is getting the local game up and running again.
“We want to make sure we have a look at as many players as possible before going to France and prevent a situation where some local players fall through the cracks,’’ Made said.
ZRU have opted for a rather unorthodox return. Rugby action kicked off yesterday with a mock Sevens tournament, which is expected to run over the next two weeks in provincial bases around the country.
These include Harare, Bulawayo, Midlands and Manicaland.
“It’s an open invitation to the teams that have wrapped up their compliance protocols, and will serve as a way to give clubs a way to have a run at some competitive rugby, assess fitness levels and finalise their squads and registration.
“Once we wrap up the Sevens game, we will move to the Fifteens game and the league.
“We intend to make sure that all Covid-19 protocols are observed,” he said.
He spoke about the move by Rugby Africa to shift the semi-finals and final of the Rugby Africa Cup to France.
That tournament will kick off in July in a knock-out format, which will see eight teams competing and the overall winner automatically qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, also slated for France.
The quarter-finalists include Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Kenya and Ivory Coast.
“We welcome the move and I personally don’t agree with some sections of the rugby community questioning the rationale behind the move.
“For one, it would cost a nation well over US$60 000 to host such an event of this nature, but none of us will bear the costs now.
“Also, as a nation we should all be ready to take to the field regardless of the venue.
“France is hosting the World Cup and this will be a dress rehearsal of sorts for all the competing teams.
“This is especially true for the team that wins and qualifies.”
