The Young Sables begin their campaign at this year’s Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) Under-19 Championships with a tricky opening encounter against Uganda at Prince Edward’s Jubilee Field Saturday.
The match kicks off at 1530hrs, soon after the Namibia-Tunisia match which kicks off at 1230.
Defending champions Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda will battle for the right to represent the region at next year’s IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy (JWRT).
The other four teams, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia and Morocco in the second-tier division will be battling to gain promotion into next year’s CAR top division.
Coach Brighton Chivandire said they would be taking all their opponents seriously, but singled out Namibia, who they play in a potential decider next Saturday, as their main threat.
“Every team in our group is strong and we are going to be taking each game seriously.
However, having lost to the Namibians at the Craven Week recently, they will come with their tails up and with confidence on their side.
“We have a strong side with players who are used to playing in such tournaments and our players are fit and raring to go,” said Chivandire.
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The Namibians, who have lost in the final of the last two editions of the tournament to Zimbabwe, are the main obstacle to the hosts reclaiming the trophy.
Zimbabwe boast a strong side which has a number of players who featured at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Georgia and a few who were at the Coca-Cola Craven Week last week.
The Young Sables have been very successful at this level, winning the last two editions of this tournament and three overall in the last five years and losing twice in the final.
They have graced the Junior World Championships in South Africa 2005, JWC Ireland 2007, JWRT Moscow 2010 and, most recently, JWRT Georgia 2011
The Young Sables’ preparations have, however, been rocked by injuries to some of their key players, who were expected to add the experience they gained from the Junior World Rugby Trophy.
In the front row the Young Sables will be without prop Ian Muza, while midfielders Dylan Coetzee and Corey Van Rensburg have also been ruled out due to injuries.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe senior rugby side, the Sables, who were recently crowned Tri-Nations Victoria Cup champions with a game to spare, clash with Kenya in the last match of the tournament in Nairobi today.
The Kenyans, who won the inaugural tournament last year, have moved the match to the 35 000-seater Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
The Sables might have wrapped up the Victoria Cup with a game in hand, but this clash will be much more than a dead rubber as the rankings will be at stake.
Zimbabwe U-19 squad
Backs: J Forrester, M Nel, J Coles, D Zimbudzana, M Muhambi, R Morkel, P Bryant, L Tambwera, S Linfield, M McIntosh, R Sargeant Forwards: M Bryce-Rodgers, D Sibanda, J Smallbones, K Makuvire, T Ndaba, M Mandioma, G Logan, M Sinclair, T Chigumbura, D Rorke, F Jijita, T Tsomondo.
