More players jostle for Sables places

INSPIRED by Zimbabwe’s recent Africa Cup win, more rugby players look set to join former Western Force captain Ian Prior in helping the Sables on their mission to qualify for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2027.

While this year’s Rugby Africa Cup fell outside of the RWC 2027 qualification process, next year’s tournament will count.

World Rugby last week announced the reimagined process of qualification for the global showcase, the first event to feature 24 nations.

With the core principle of qualifying on merit and simplifying the process for fans and teams, the new process opens new avenues for more teams to reach the pinnacle of the sport, raising global standards along the way.

The redefined process follows extensive consultation with World Rugby’s six regional associations and is underpinned by the World Rugby Council’s decision in October 2023 to expand the tournament from 20 to 24 teams.

With 12 teams — France, New Zealand, Italy, Ireland, champions South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan — having qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023, 12 other teams will be determined via the Rugby World Cup 2027 global qualification process.

According to World Rugby, Europe now have four slots, with the top four teams at the Europe Championship 2025 earning automatic qualification.

Asia, Africa and South America will each retain their one slot, with the winners of the 2025 Asia Men’s Championships, Africa Cup and Sudamerica Rugby Championship booking their tickets.

A final qualification tournament will then be held and it will comprise four teams that will play in a round-robin format, with the winner qualifying for Australia 2027.

The four teams will be from the Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 (third place), South America/Pacific Play-off loser, the fifth-place team at the Rugby Europe Championship and the winner of the Africa/Asia play-off.

The Africa/Asia play-off will comprise the runners-up of the Africa Cup and Asia Rugby Championships.

These latest developments have left Zimbabwe Sables coach Piet Benade rather optimistic on the country’s chances at their long-awaited return to the global stage (Rugby World Cup).

“The pathway was always going to require us to repeat winning of the Africa cup to qualify, and that is the main focus right now.

“We are very much looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead,” he said.

Aiding in the country’s quest to qualify for the global showcase is the increased interest from Zimbabwean players scattered around the world to play for the Sables.

According to RugbyPass, centre Kyle Godwin, who plies his trade at Lyon in France’s Top 14, is one such player who is ready to commit, and could have made his Test debut for Zimbabwe alongside Aussie-born Prior had his wedding not coincided with this year’s Africa Cup in Uganda.

Despite being born in Harare, 32-year-old Godwin attended school in Perth and went on to win one cap for Wallabies against France in November 2016.

But he has now served the necessary stand-down period under World Rugby’s birthright transfer ruling.

Others have shown interest following Zimbabwe’s brilliant Africa Cup campaign, which included wins against host nation Uganda, six-time defending champions Namibia — their first against the Welwitschias for 23 years — and against Algeria in the final.

Former All Blacks and Highlanders loose forward Gareth Evans, who won his only cap against Japan in 2018, is said to be considering the switch, while former Junior Springbok lock Eli Snyman also appears to be in the frame, amongst a few others.

It has been two years since Evans (32) last played for the Highlanders, while Snyman, who plays for Benetton, is still only 28.

“I have played with Kyle for a number of years over here (in Australia), I was at the Force with him, and he is a quality human and a really class player,” said Prior, a game- controlling scrumhalf who never quite made the step-up from the Junior Wallaby and Australia A ranks to full Test honours.

“As far as I am aware, he is keen and, hopefully, with the results we have got, anyone, who is eligible and interested, will see there is some real potential to be able to create some history and try and qualify for the first World Cup since 1991.

“We have always tried to punch above our weight in Zimbabwe and I guess it makes it more appealing for guys who may be on the fence to see that we are on the right path, we have had a bit of success and the right people on the bus — both from a player point of view and a coaching and administration point of view.”

Australia-born Prior’s family members all come from Zimbabwe and the Sables management have been chasing him for a number of years.

Finally, he made his debut, after a calamitous build-up, in front of a partisan home crowd, in the 22-20 quarter-final win against Uganda. Benade seems open to the idea of Evans, Godwin, Snyman and others following Prior’s footsteps.

“The foreign-based boys are exposed to professional setups and many different environments, and they will be crucial to us performing well,” added the Sables gaffer.

“We have been in touch with many players and will continue to try to get the most talented players involved.

“However, we are also pleased with the way some of the local boys have taken their opportunities and striking a balance between the two will be crucial going forward,” he said.

While there appears to be ample time before the next Africa Cup, Benade has already started plotting his action plan before the next Africa Cup, Benade has already started plotting his action plan.

“We are hoping to play matches in November to get the core group back together, along with exposing further players to the Sables environment.

“An early start will help us get a clearer picture of our player base and their potential.” – Rugbypass/Zimpapers Sports Hub