In-Touch. The Zimbabwe Rugby Union Newsletter Zimbabwe Sevens Cheetahs brace for Monaco, welcome SRC decision Cheetahs ready for the Olympics repechage in Monaco, names squad Sables call up 2021 training Squad The Zimbabwe Sevens Cheetahs he resumption of the high risk sports like camps and testing sessions rugby by the SRC was welcomed by the camps as they prepare for Zimbabwe Rugby Union as they have set in the Olympics repechage in T Women in Rugby motion the World rugby’s gradual return to Monaco and the Sables Rumbidzai play protocols and are leaving nothing to chance. The incoming and outgoing Chabveka two senior men’s flagship teams have lined up training tours. NEWS JUST IN ... Schools Rugby: Not just yet The Zimbabwe Schools Rugby Head in Charge Mr Tungamirai Mashungu said the Schools are hoping to make a return to Rugby in the second term. “We are currently working on the protocols document for the safe return of the game in schools. ATS is engaging Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on our behalf for inter schools sport to resume.” Mr Tunga Mashungu ZRU Media and Publicity 1 [email protected] Head in Charge: School Rugby IN-TOUCH VOLUME 3: MARCH Cheetahs head Coach Daniel Hondo a veteran of many Cheetahs sevens battles as a player and coach has welcomed the decision to allow rugby to return to training and play as he says ‘ Time is running out for us to get the team ready for the Repechage’. he said his technical team is raring to meet the players for a face to face interface and training. The players have been holed up in their different rugby bases. Some players have been playing for their rugby clubs in the foreign leagues, while some have been following the training programmes the technical team has been giving them to follow during the lockdown period. Daniel Tendayi Hondo Hondo said he has identified his training squad and Zimbabwe Cheetahs will be inviting them to the Stellenbosch Academy Head Coach do Sport Rugby Africa camp from the 6th to the 16th of May 2021. From the camp the team is set to take imbabwe Cheetahs are itching to resume part in several preparatory tournaments leading up to action and get their groove back ahead of the Repechage to be held in Monaco France. Z the tough Olympic Games Repechage set for Monaco, France on June 19-20. The Cheetahs qualified for the Repechage when they took part in the Africa Cup Dual Qualifier held in The Cheetahs like all contact sports which include Johannesburg at the Bosman Stadium. The 2019 football, netball, teams had until recently been Africa Cup was for two qualifications, the first being forced into a long spell of inactivity as they were the Automatic qualification for deemed high-risk disciplines which were the Olympics for African susceptible to spreading the coronavirus. teams and qualification for the However, in welcoming the Sport and newly introduced Challenger Recreation Commission’s decision to allow Series which will be used for for a return to training and play after a year qualification for HSBC sevens of Covid-19 induced break, the Cheetahs core status. Kenya won the have pledged to do all within their powers Africa Cup and qualified for to be ready for the Monaco assignment. the Olympics. The Cheetahs came a credible third behind With 11 of the 12 teams are set to compete Uganda to secure the Olympic Repechage slot in at the Tokyo Olympics already confirmed, the Monaco and also qualified for the Challenger Cheetahs must now fight for the final spot which Series will be up for grabs at the Repechage tournament. And some of the teams eyeing that final slot on June The Cheetahs took part in the new format Challenger 19 to June 20 include Brazil, Chile, China, France, Series for non core teams that was supposed to lead Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Samoa, to core status qualification. The first two rounds of Tonga, Uganda the Challenger Series were held in Chile and Their coach Daniel Hondo, however has his plan for Uruguay. The first two rounds had sixteen teams and the competition and just like his players, the new the top eight of those teams after the two rounds of Cheetahs gaffer is eager to get on with the job and play were to proceed to the next and final round in believes the Sevens team can, as they have often Hong Kong. The winner of the third round in Hong done, put smiles on Zimbabweans faces. Kong would qualify for core status. The Cheetahs had come a credible 6th and 8th position ZRU Media and Publicity 2 [email protected] IN-TOUCH VOLUME 3: MARCH respectively therefore qualifying for the Hong Kong The Paramount InterProvincial U20 Cup Between top eight Finals of the Challenger series Bulawayo and Harare province was also cancelled due to the pandemic. Most senior players have been Hondo has announced an extended training squad for inactive since the 2019 Super Six competition won the camps leading up to the repechage camps and by Old Hararians Club after defeating Old Georgians games. in the finals. Cheetahs Training Squad for the Repechage and With the extended period of inactivity due to the SAS Camp pandemic, some players migrated to play in foreign Hilton Mudariki, Blithe Mavesere, Riann O’Neill, leagues in Europe and in South Africa. The Sables Shingirai Katsvere, Martin Mangongo, Emmanuel technical team drafted a training squad from the Zangari, Godknows Mavara, Ngoni Chibuwe, Boyd players who have been actively playing the game Rouse, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Dudley White- during this lockdown period and they came up with a Sharpley, Kudzai Mashawi, Shayne Makombe, training squad of forty eight players. The training Prince Ncube, Biselele Tshamala, Stephan Hunduza, squad includes ; Rufaro Chikwaira, Jafnos Chiwanza, Mkhululi Ndhlela, Nelson Madida, Vuyani Ndlovu, Tafadzwa Kumadiro, Godfrey Magaramombe, Jerry Jaravaza, Ryan Musumhi and Tafadzwa Chitokwindo. Sables gear up for 2021 Tours s the game goes about its phased return following the greenlight A given to rugby it is a hive of activity in the Sables management as they line-up training programmes and tours for the senior national team for 2021. The Zimbabwe Sables The Sables management team wasted no time in Tyron Fagan, Doug Juszczyk, Gabriel Sipapate, releasing a list of players they had on the radar for Simba Mandioma, Dean Makoni, Aaron Sawu, the training programme. Royal Mwale, Farai Mudariki, Cleopas Kundiona, Coach Brendon Dawson and his lieutenants did not David Makanda, Jan Ferreira, Sean sit on their laurels during the seemingly endless Beevor, Takunda Kundishora, Covid-19 induced hiatus and have been tracking Blithe Mavesere, Biselele T s h a m a l a , G o d f r e y players especially those in foreign leagues that Muzanargwo, Mungo Mason, have been active. Seb Roche, Aiden Burnett, They have also been in touch with the players’ Tonderai Chiwambutsa, Hilton clubs. Mudariki, Dudlee White - Sadly, for the domestic players, Covid-19 has meant ADVERTISE IN THE ZRU that there was no action since 2020 except for the IN-TOUCH BULLETIN Under-20 leagues that were played in Harare and !" #$%&' % (%#)$ %*+ +,-$#.$ /%#0$1 2"# %(( 3"4# 5#"+4&1. %*+ .$#-,&$. Bulawayo provinces whose matches were also Contact: [email protected] stopped at the finals stage. ZRU Media and Publicity 3 [email protected] IN-TOUCH VOLUME 3: MARCH Sharpley, Kyle Galloway, Jason Robertson, Keith matches set for July in Tunisia. The Sables have Chiwara, Tinashe Hombiro, Matthew Mcnab, Rufaro lined up Incoming and Outgoing tours of Zambia Chikwaira, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Brandon Boshi, and Namibia. Sables Management and the Sables Riaan O’Neill, Boyd Rouse, Marcus Nel, Brandon committee are hard at work in the background to Mudzekenyedzi, Shingirai Katsvere, Shayne secure another incoming tour for the Sables to get Makombe, Takudzwa Chieza, Martin Mangongo, them match fit for the Rugby Africa Cup to be held Brandon Mandivenga, Tapiwa Mafura, David in Tunisia from the 12th of July to the 19th of July Makamba, Bornwell Gwinji, Tinotenda Msasanure, 2021. The Sables are scheduled to play the Jeff Makoni, Tatenda Rwenyu, Keith Murray, Dustin repechage team from the Rugby Africa Silver cup on Andrews, Daniel Capsopoulos, George Saungweme. the 12th of July and they play their last test match against Tunisia on the 18th of July 2021 in Tunisia. With the resumption of rugby, the Sables technical team decided to hold trials and testing for the local based players who play in the local league and the testing and trials are set for Hellenic Academy over two weekends, the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of April and the weekend of the 10th and 11th of April. The Sables head coach Mr Brendan Dawson has coopted the local coaches into the extended Sables selection team as the coaches have to recommend their players to the National Head coach for testing and training. This will ensure that the selection process reaches every deserving player in the country. Some players doing duty for the country with the Zimbabwe Sevens team the Cheetahs have not been called up for the Sables as they are currently seized with the repechage qualification Zimbabwe Sables Head camps. Coach Brendan Dawson The Zimbabwe Rugby Union, has entered into The guidelines and protocols for strategic partnerships and sponsorships with some the safe return of Rugby post hospitals and medical aid societies to ensure that all the players are tested before they return to play and COVID -19 lockdown. training. The selected players from the testing and training camps will join the extended training squad selected from the players that have been actively Having spent more than a year of uncertainty, playing for the camp scheduled for the 16th of May characterised by pain and anxiety rugby is now set to the 3rd of July 2021.