GLASGOW — Boroughmuir captain Andy Rose (with rugby ball) will return to his native Zimbabwe this summer on the first leg of a journey that could lead to him appearing in the 2015 rugby World Cup in England.
— Sports Reporter/Scotsman
The former Scotland Under-20 player has decided to throw his hat into the ring with the Sables, admitting that failure to retain a place with the Scottish clubs’ international side he represented twice last year played a part in his deliberations.
“I was disappointed not to get into the clubs’ team and that helped me make my decision,” said Rose, who could be on a collision course with the All Blacks as the winners of the African qualifying will be in their pool.
Zimbabwe, whom Rose skippered at Under-19 level before heading to Britain to complete a degree in Sports Management and Business at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, are now the top-ranked African side behind the Springboks and are regarded as strong contenders to emerge from a qualifying tournament in Madagascar in July featuring the host country, Uganda and Kenya.
Rose can’t wait to be part of the action, although he knows that reaching the Zimbabwe team is not given.
“I’ve been speaking with the Zim coaches and they want me to go back and attempt to play my way into the side through the league system,” he said.
“I’m happy to do that and leave for home on April 16, but I am also determined to return to Boroughmuir next season and help the club quickly regain the Premiership status we have just forfeited by being relegated.
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“The last thing I am going to do is jump ship at Meggetland, but I would like to try to help Zimbabwe on to the world stage.
“I don’t anticipate playing abroad in the build up to the World Cup will be a problem if I make the national squad and there are other Zimbabweans under consideration who play for Ayr and Gala.”
In the past, Zimbabwe have seen players such as Dave Denton (Scotland), David Pocock (Australia) and Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira (South Africa) gain caps elsewhere.
Rose added: “A lot of youngsters attending rugby academies in South Africa have given a commitment to return to Zimbabwe, while former Scotland flanker Scott Gray has gone back to head up the Sports Department at my old Zimbabwean School.
“All these things will improve Zimbabwean rugby, but, in the short term, we want to top Pool A of the qualifying.”