BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
SABLES wing Matthew McNab continues to make an impression at Worcester after putting on a good show during a second loan stint at English Premiership side on Wednesday.
McNab is one of the four players from Championship club Hartpury who were roped in on loan by Worcester last week ahead of Wednesday’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Bath at The Rec.
The 23-year-old Zimbabwe rugby international together with centre Robbie Smith, tighthead prop Mitch Walsh, wing Matt McNab and back Alex Forrester were brought in to strengthen a squad that is still severely depleted by COVID-19 cases, a respiratory virus and injuries.
McNab and Smith both started with Walsh and Forrester named among the replacements as Warriors went in search of a bonus point win which would secure a place in the semi-finals.
And the rising Zimbabwean was one of the stars of the show as Warriors secured a place in the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals with a 13-7 win at The Rec.
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A try from Tom Howe and eight points from the boot of acting-captain Billy Searle – all the points coming in the second half – clinched a first-ever win at The Rec and booked Warriors’ passage to the last four.
This was McNab’s second appearance for Worcester as he continues to make big strides in English rugby.
The gifted wing previously made an appearance for the Premiership club in the Premiership Rugby Shield competition in November, 2019, scoring a brilliant try in their victory against Sale Jets.
This season McNab has been establishing himself as a key member of the Hartpury RFC side which is currently in six position on the log in the RFU Championship, the professional second tier of rugby union in England.
McNab has been on a steady rise since moving to Hartpury College four years ago to further his rugby career while also studying for a sports business management degree.
The Gloucester institute which has strong links with Gallagher Premiership side Gloucester has played a significant role in the development of many fledgling Zimbabwean rugby players over the years.
McNab is expected to play an important role for the Sables as they seek to qualify for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991 during the qualifiers to be played in France in July.