The touring UK-based Crediton Rugby Football Club Under-17 team, which arrived in the country on Sunday, Monday visited the Mbare Rugby Academy based at George Stark School in the dusty high-density suburb of Mbare.
The young players presented kit to young players at the academy based in one of the oldest suburbs in the capital.
The academy, which is the first of its kind in Zimbabwean rugby as it has taken the game to the high-density suburbs, has produced top-class players like Germany-based utility back Manasah Sita and Sables’ loose forward Njabulo Ncube.
The 16-member Crediton Under-17 team was yesterday scheduled to play St John’s College’s Under-17 team after a tour of Mbare.
The tourists are scheduled to play two more games, against St George’s College and Falcon College in Bulawayo later this week.
In an interview with NewsDay Sport yesterday, the touring team’s spokesperson Roger Marshal said: “We were supposed to travel with 21 players, but due to negative perceptions some pulled out.
“However, I’m sure after hearing experiences from some of their colleagues here they will be eager to come next time.
“The lads just presented playing kit to the youngsters, while some have pledged to sponsor some of the kids with their school fees,” said Marshal.
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Marshal said the earlier visit by the Independent Schools rugby team, the Barbarians, did not influence their decision to come to Zimbabwe as they had already decided to tour the country.
“We wanted something different and Zimbabwe fitted in perfectly. Most people from the UK usually go to South Africa, but we wanted Zimbabwe.”
Soon after the matches the tourists will spend one night at Hwange Safari Lodge and five nights in Victoria Falls.
