HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 25, 2019/APO Group/ –The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) today announced the Sables training squad for the Victoria Cup.

Sables gets into camp on Monday the 3rd of July in preparation for the four nations tournament which features Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Victoria Cup has been revived this year after the cancellation of the Gold Cup, before its cancellation in 2004, it featured Kenya and Zimbabwe.

It is a very important revival of competitive rugby which will be very import in Zimbabwe’s road to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Starting from November 2019, 16 teams will compete in the new Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) with an aim to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in 2022.

The top 16 teams based on the African ranking will compete in a single coordinated competition until the last two face each other in the final.

The first stage consists of a qualifying round where the winner of each of these four matches will progress to the group phase.

The squad

Royal Mwale, Tyran Fagan, Henri Boshoff, Keith Murray, Matthew Mandioma,

Neil Mawere, David Makanda, Cleopas Kundiona, Kudakwashe Chipunza,

Godwin Mangenje, Jan Ferreira, Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, George Saungweme, David Kapuya, Biselele Tshamala, Blithe Mavesere, Brian Nyuade, Aiden Burnett, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Ernest Mudzengerere, Hilton Mudariki, Kuziva Kazembe, Brandon Mandivenga, Jeremiah Jaravaza, Martin Mangongo, Chibuwe Ngoni, Daniel Capsopoulos, Takudzwa Chieza, Shayne Makombe, Riaan O’Neil, Kudzai Mashawi, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Matthew Macnab, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Shingirai Katsvere, Kudakwashe Chiwanza

Rufaro Chikwaira and Wesley Chiromo

Team Management

Head Coach: Brendon Dawson

Assistant Coach: Tonderai Chavhanga

Defence Coach: Liam Middleton

Conditioning Coach: Daniel Hondo

Manager: Jason Maritz

The Victoria cup match schedule:

22 June                    Kenya v Uganda

TBA                          Kenya v Zimbabwe

13 July                      Uganda v Kenya

13 July                      Zimbabwe v Zambia

20 July                      Zimbabwe v Kenya

27 July                      Uganda v Zimbabwe

27 July                      Zambia v Kenya

10 August                 Uganda v Zambia

17 August                 Kenya v Zambia

24 August                 Zimbabwe v Uganda

31 August                 Zambia v Uganda

14 September           Zambia v Zimbabwe