ZIMBABWE rugby team coach Cyprian Mandenge says he will announce his provisional squad ahead of the national XVs side’s first test match of the year after the conclusion of the trials to be held at ZB Sports Club this afternoon.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The Sables, as the national XVs rugby side is affectionately known, play Kenya in their opening match of the Africa Cup competition at Prince Edward School’s Jubilee Field on June 13.
Mandenge said in preparation of the tricky encounter they had decided to hold open trials to give all deserving players an equal opportunity to be selected for the national team.
The trials will feature four teams with three sides coming from the northern region teams predominantly made up of Harare-based teams and a southern region mainly composed of the Bulawayo-based players.
“Ideally, I would want to start camp on June 6 with a squad of 32 players and those who impress during the trials will make up the composition of that squad in addition to the foreign based players. We will have four teams taking part in the trials, three from the northern region and a southern region select side,” Mandenge said.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire heads the selection panel that also includes Mandenge, his assistant Nsikelelo Sibanda, Max Madziva and Reuben Kumpasa.
Mandenge, who took over from Brendan Dawson in January after serving as the team’s assistant coach said he was not worried about the team’s lack of game time ahead of the clash against the Kenyans.
