BLESSING TAKUDZWA
HARARE – The Zimbabwe national men's rugby union team, known as The Sables, has officially kicked off their camp ahead of their end-of-year tour to Dubai and South Korea in November. Locally based players have begun preparations in Harare, with the foreign-based contingent set to join later this week.
This tour marks a significant opportunity for the Sables as they face tough international competition in matches against the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.
The coaching staff, led by Africa Cup winning coach Pieter Benade, faces the challenging task of selecting a final travelling squad from a pool of highly competitive and talented players.
The camp has seen stiff competition, with seasoned veterans, emerging talent, and returning players all vying for a spot in the starting lineup. Coach Benade and his team are working meticulously to ensure the best possible squad is assembled for the tour.
Speaking with ZimSphere, Sables captain Hilton Mudariki expressed his excitement about the upcoming tour and the return to camp:
"It’s good to be back in camp. I think there’s huge excitement around the end-of-year tour. We get to travel to new countries, experience different conditions, and the guys can’t wait to go."
Mudariki also spoke about the intense competition within the camp, with several key positions being hotly contested.
"I think it’s very good. Competition always brings out the best in all of us. The more headaches we can give the coach, the better. It’s great for the Sables if we keep pushing each other, especially over the next couple of weeks as guys fight for positions," he said.
Regarding the team's preparedness for the tour, Mudariki noted that the Sables have been studying both the UAE and South Korea to gain a tactical edge.
"We’ve been doing our homework, watching the games they’ve been playing. As more guys join the camp, we’ll start to have more video sessions, and the coaches will identify key areas of strength and weakness," he told ZimSphere.
In the lead-up to the tour, the Sables have engaged in a series of competitive matches featuring locally based players against provincial teams, as well as against the High Performance Centre U20 side.
In the last successive Saturdays Zimbabwe A triumphed over the Manicaland Select side 46-30 before going on to register a decisive 76-17 victory over the Zimbabwe U20 side at Harare Sports Club.
Mudariki emphasized the importance of these preparatory games saying, "We want these games to remain competitive, and we know the quality that the U20s bring. For us, it’s about rectifying mistakes and perfecting our game plan. We want to be as sharp as possible before heading into the tour."
The Sables captain also encouraged fans to continue their strong support, noting the energy they bring to the games.
"We always appreciate the fans who come out to support us. It definitely goes a long way, and we encourage even more fans to come this weekend. It’s exciting times for Zimbabwean rugby."
The final squad for the end-of-year tour is expected to be announced later this week after the scheduled rematch against the Zimbabwe Under 20 at Zimbabwe's home of Rugby.
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