In-form Zimbabwe Grind Out ...

In-form Zimbabwe Grind Out Workmanlike Win Over Algeria to Lift 2024 Rugby Africa Cup

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Rugby Africa Cup 2024
High-flying Zimbabwe have been crowned champions of the continent after a workmanlike 29-3 victory of Algeria in the final of the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala on Sunday.
Zimbabwe – the form team of the tournament – executed their game plan admirably.  The Sables managed to neutralise the Algerian threat in the first half before unleashing their expansive game after the break to kill it off as a contest.
The first-half belonged to Zimbabwe’s 21-year-old winger and double-scorer Trevor Gurwe, who was making his run-on debut for his country.
For the first try, fullback Takudzwa Musingwini delightfully offloaded to Gurwe, who dashed clear for the try-line but instead of simply placing, he rather needlessly dummied two defenders as the Sables fans feared the worse – him dropping the ball. Thankfully he didn’t.
Good work by Zimbabwe captain and scrumhalf Hilton Mudariki on the blind side released Gwashu to complete his brace in the first half.
Zimbabwe led 12-3 at half-time, with Algeria getting onto the scoreboard courtesy of their star man, the fullback Julien Serge Caminati.
But the normally reliable 38-year Caminati, one of the best players of the tournaments, didn’t bring his kicking boots for the final and missed four penalties in the match.
After a rather uninspiring beginning to the second-half, Zimbabwe let loose towards the end.
Substitute hooker Liam Larkan came at the end of a powerful driving maul to score Zimbabwe’s third of four tries. Outside-centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi then sprinted over to finish off a lovely back-line move initiated by the 20-year-old wing Edward Sigauke, to assure the Zimbabweans of the title.
Zimbabwe’s Piet Benade was named coach-of-the-tournament with the Sables’ dazzling back Tapiwa Mafura receiving the player-of-the-tournament award.

This concludes the Rugby Africa Cup, a continental rugby unions tournament featuring the top eight countries across Africa. Participating nations include Zimbabwe, Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Burkina Faso and host nation Uganda. All twelve matches will take place at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium and Wankulukuku Stadium in Uganda, from Saturday July 20 to Sunday July 28.

All matches are available for broadcasting on NBS Sport Uganda and DSTV Channel (377). In addition matches are available for free streaming on Rugby Pass, https://rugbypass.tv/home, Rugby Africa Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique) and Rugby Africa YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/RugbyAfrique).

Algeria Team List

  1. Loosehead Prop: Mohammed Reda Benlebbad
  2. Hooker: Adam Moulahya
  3. Tighthead Prop: Yassin Boutemmani
  4. Left Lock: Mehdi Ferhat Slamani
  5. Right Lock: Mohamed Yakine Djebbari
  6. Left Flanker: Enzo Zaitri
  7. Right Flanker: Adrien Pierre Roger Vert
  8. Number Eight: Marvyn Emmanuel Regis Youcef (C)
  9. Scrum-half: Dylan Mariano Barajas
  10. Fly-half: Enzo Kralfa
  11. Left Wing: Nadir Megdoud
  12. Inside Center: Alexis Thierry Ludovic Renou
  13. Outside Center: Fares Leulmi Pierre Boulkenafet
  14. Right Wing: Rayan Ouadah
  15. Fullback: Julien Serge Caminati
  16. Front Row: Joseph Jean-Marc Reynaud 17.
  17. Front Row: Jawad Iqbal Atia 18.
  18. Front Row: Bekada Youcef Bilel Belhaouari
  19. Reserve: Mohamed Abdel Hamid Makri
  20. Reserve: Aïtham Aloïs Meksoud
  21. Reserve: Elyes Amedjkouh
  22. Reserve: Samir Yacine Kharbouch
  23. Reserve: Gabriel Georges Mohamed Belhadj

Zimbabwe Team List

  1. Loosehead Prop: Victor Mupunga
  2. Hooker: Simba Mandioma
  3. Tighthead Prop: Bornwell Gwinji
  4. Left Lock: Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa
  5. Right Lock: Simba Siraha
  6. Left Flanker: Dylan Utete
  7. Right Flanker: Godfrey Muzanargwo
  8. Number Eight: Aiden Burnett
  9. Scrum-half: Hilton Mudariki (C)
  10. Fly-half: Tapiwa Mafura
  11. Left Wing: Edward Sigauke
  12. Inside Center: Kudzai Mashawi
  13. Outside Center: Brandon Mudzekenyedzi
  14. Right Wing: Trevor Gurwe
  15. Fullback: Takudzwa Musingwini
  16. Front Row: Zvikomborero Chimoto
  17. Front Row: Liam Larkan
  18. Front Row: Brian Makamure
  19. Reserve: David Makamba
  20. Reserve: Tadiwa Gwashu
  21. Reserve: Keegan Joubert
  22. Reserve: Dion Khumalo
  23. Reserve: Darrel Makwasha

Written by Enock Muchinjo

Media Contact:

Nicole Vervelde

Communications Advisor

nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

About Rugby Africa:

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the continental governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.

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