ZIMBABWE International loose forward, Kingsley Lang, will lead local rugby giants Old Georgians RFC in their maiden campaign in the rebranded Gold Cup, South Africa’s top competition for non-university rugby union clubs, which gets underway this weekend.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Old Georgians, who are Zimbabwe’s sole representatives, will be on the road in their opening fixture, as they kickstart their campaign with a tough away encounter against White River Rugby Club in Mpumalanga, South Africa, tomorrow.
Lang, who missed the Sables’ Africa Cup campaign due to injury, is one of the most experienced players in the squad, which has a good balance of experienced and upcoming young players.
The 30-year-old loose forward, who played for Jersey RFC in the English Championship before relocating back to Zimbabwe last year, is one of the several seasoned players in the side, which includes long-serving Zimbabwe rugby stalwart flank, Jacques Leitao, lock, Fortune Chipendo, scrumhalf, Graham Kulback and prop, Jakov Jakov.
Old Georgians also look to have embraced youth ahead of the Gold Cup tournament, as their squad also features three former youth internationals — wing, Tawanda Ngosi, centre, Shingi Katsvere and eighthman, Moses Gunda.
Keep Reading
- 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
The duo of Katsvere and Gunda were part of the Young Sables that finished second to Namibia in the Junior Africa Cup in Windhoek two weeks ago, while Ngosi was part of the Zimbabwe Under-20 side for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy early this year.
The well-balanced squad also features a number of Zimbabwe Sevens rugby stars in flyhalf Lenience Tambwera, centre, Boyd Rouse and wingers, Stephan Hunduza and Kuda Chiwanza.
Old Georgians coach, Grant Mitchell said he was happy with how his team’s preparations had gone and backed his charges to make the country proud.
“Everything has gone according to plan. We have prepared as best as we could do and we are not focusing much on the opposition. It’s the strongest squad we’ve got at available at the moment. We lost two of our front row players (Pieter Joubert and Farai Lioga) through injury, but we’ve got one or two coming back from injury set-backs,” he said.
“We have a number of experienced players in our squad, but we’ve also injected some youth in Tawanda Ngosi, Moses Gunda and Shingi Katsvere. They are all very talented and have got lot of potential and like everyone they’ve earned their place in the squad.”
Old Georgians earned the right to represent the country after dispatching Old Hararians 39-20 in the final of the local qualifying tournament held earlier this year.
The Groombridge-based side will join 19 other teams in a competition that will be played in a Rugby World Cup-style format consisting of eight pool matches per week for five weeks up until October 8.
The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals a week later. All knockout matches, including the televised semi-finals (October 22) and final (October 29) will be hosted at participating clubs.
After this weekend’s away encounter in Mpumalanga, Old Georgians will take on hosts Cape Town’s Direct Axis False Bay on September 24, before hosting Durban Collegians the following week.
Forwards: Kingsley Lang (captain), Jakov Jakov, Wade Petzer, Derric Muringani, David Makanda, Keith Murray, Graham Cochrane, Arthur Mangena, Fortune Chipendu, Kyle de Beer, Richard wild, Jacques Leitao, Kudzai Muzorewa, Tendai Dzongodza, Moses Gunda.
Backs: Graham Kaulback, Ryan Sparke, Anthony Holt, Lenience Tambwera, Boyd Rouse, David McWade, Chido Kapenzi, Shingi Katsvere, Farai Jijita, Brandon Boshi, Tawanda Ngosi, Stephan Hunduza, Tafadzwa Mukonyora, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Jonathan McWade.
Coach: Grant Mitchell Assistant: Dean Dewdney Manager: Andre Pike