ZIMBABWE Rugby Union (ZRU) president John Falkenberg has hailed Sports and Recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane for the support he has given his association ahead of next week’s World Rugby Under-20 Trophy competition in Harare.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Harare will host the prestigious eight-nation tournament, which runs from Monday to May 2, becoming only the second African nation to host the tournament after Kenya in 2009.
The tournament will see hosts Zimbabwe, Fiji, Samoa, Hong Kong, Namibia, Spain and United States battle it out for the sole ticket to compete at next year’s top tier World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
Teams and match officials are expected to start arriving in the country today.
Matches will be held at Harare Sports Club and the National Sports Stadium.
While declaring his association’s readiness to host the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy competition, Falkenberg said government had played an important role in ensuring they were prepared to host a successful tournament.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Preparations have gone on very well and we are very excited. I can’t sing higher praises of the government support we have received, especially for a sport that has always been in the cold,” Falkenberg said at a Press briefing on Monday.
“They have bent over backwards to help rugby in Zimbabwe and as a union, we are very excited with this new partnership with the Ministry of Sport. We are happy that the ministry is very excited about the upcoming Junior World Trophy. Let’s also just reiterate that the trophy was not confiscated. It’s in our possession and we would like it acknowledged that the Ministry of Sport has been very supportive of the game of rugby.
“We are working together for the betterment of the sport in the country. This tournament (the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy) is one of the major sports tournaments that has ever come to Zimbabwe. It’s the closest we will have as a nation to hosting something like a Rugby World Cup, it’s fantastic for our country . . . We are engaging people from diverse backgrounds, boosting tourism and marketing our country and I’m very honoured that I’m still in office for this period.”
Falkenberg, who is heading towards the end of his four-year tenure at the helm of the local rugby governing body, also paid tribute to local sponsors such as Old Mutual, who are the official sponsors of the Young Sables side.
Old Mutual have been involved in local junior rugby since 2014, when they unveiled a broad sponsorship package for schools rugby that covers development of teams in previously disadvantaged communities, as well as provincial and national select sides.
“Old Mutual have come on board and they have been great partners of the union for the past three years. They have come through to fully take care of the Zimbabwe Under-20 side hence the name Old Mutual Young Sables. Other sponsors include ZOL, Schweppes, and we are very grateful for their support in these tough economic times,” he said.
Formerly known as the Junior World Rugby Trophy, the second-tier global tournament, which was rebranded to World Rugby U20 Trophy, has become important in the development of the future stars of world rugby.
The inaugural tournament was held in June 2008, hosted by Chile and it has since been hosted in Kenya, Russia, Georgia, the United States, Hong Kong and Portugal. Zimbabwe, who have competed in four previous editions of the tournament, made their debut at the 2006 edition held in Ireland before qualifying for three more tournaments in Russia (2010), Georgia (2011) and the US in 2012.
