ZIMBABWE schoolboy rugby giants Falcon College will boast of a seasoned technical department during next week’s Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival with Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s director of rugby Liam Middleton having recently taken over the coaching duties at the Esigodini-based school.
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Middleton, who is also the national seven’s rugby team told NewsDay Sport that he would be involved in coaching all school’s age group rugby teams this season.
“I will be coaching Falcon College for the upcoming rugby season. I will be directly involved in the coaching of all age group teams at the school, supporting and developing the coaches, implementing a rugby curriculum and driving athletic development at the institution.
“All of these roles are medium to long term projects, however my immediate commitment is to coach the Falcon 1st XV this season which I’m enjoying.”
“I’m tasked with increasing the competitiveness of the Falcon 1st XV, which by its own admission has not met its own high expectations in recent years.
“Additionally I hope that my involvement with the coaches and players of the age group teams will reflect in their development and success over a period of time.
“Falcon College is an important representative of schools rugby in Matabeleland and it is therefore vital that they continue to be a competitive team in the schools fixture list,” Middleton said.
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Middleton assisted the school during their tour of South Africa last month where they won two of their three matches at the Dustan College Easter Rugby festival.
He said his involvement with Falcon College in Matabeleland had given an opportunity to have a better appreciation of the efforts being done in developing the sport in the region.
“The increased time that I’ve spent in Matabeleland in recent weeks has allowed me to have more face to face time with Sables head coach, Brendan Dawson and additionally spend more time with our development officers, Reuben Kumpasa and George Mukorera who are doing a remarkable job of growing the game in Matabeleland.”
Falcon is not the only local rugby giant which has been strengthening their technical department ahead of the new season.
Prince Edward recently moved to arrest their worrying slump of form in recent seasons by appointing two former Zimbabwe internationals Robbie Du Rand and Andy Ferreira as first XV coaches for the next two years.
Zimbabwe-born former Scotland international Scott Gray also joined St John’s College from Peterhouse while St Georges College retained the services of former Sables player Brendon Brider as their head coach.
Middleton said the involvement of such respected figures in local schools rugby was excellent.
“Zimbabwe schools rugby is very competitive. It attracts significant interest and support and is steeped in traditions and rivalries; it’s this that makes it a unique and recognisable competition.
“I can only reference a few games that I watched last year and my opinion is that we have talented rugby players who require more core skill and athletic development if we are to continue to be held in high esteem around the world. I’m certainly looking forward to experiencing these competitive school rugby fixtures,” Middleton said.
The Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival which will be graced by IRB vice chairman, South African Oregan Hoskins and respected Zimbabwe-born coach Ian McIntosh gets underway at Prince Edward School on Monday with 150 schools expected to take part.
International referees will also officiate at the festival, with the Kenya Rugby Union yesterday confirming that Wycliffe Matati and Moses Ndung’u will be officiating in this year’s edition.
