ZIMBABWE XVs preparations for the Africa Cup and 2015 England Rugby World Cup qualifier tournament are in the final stretch.
The side will have their first technical session today at Old Hararians Sports Club as they had a strength and conditioning session under fitness coaches Grant Mitchell and Daniel Hondo last night.
The Sables are preparing for a Namibia tri-nations invitational tournament set for Windhoek in about three weeks time where they will face tough competition.
They will face Kenya and hosts Namibia, the same sides they will battle in the Africa Cup that is also doubling up as the World Cup qualifier, next year.
Only Madagascar, who are the fourth team in the Africa Cup, will not be part of the tournament, creating a perfect environment for a battle of the African giants.
Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe are the three highest-ranked African sides on the International Rugby Board world rankings, excluding South Africa, who do not play in African competitions as they have an automatic qualification to the World Cup.
Namibia are the highest ranked sitting on 23rd place while Kenya and Zimbabwe are second and third.
The Sables have started preparations quite early with most of the players in the extended training squad going through their paces under the watchful eye of assistant coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge in Harare.
Some of the players, especially those based in the southern part of the country, will train under coach Brandon Dawson in Bulawayo before getting together for the final camp in Harare. There is also a large number of foreign-based players — some of whom are yet to earn a cap in the hooped green-and-white jersey.
From England comes the uncapped duo of Blackheath centre Sean Moen and Jersey eighthman Kingsley Lang, former Young Sables second rower Michael Passaportis, who plays for the lowly Valance in the fourth division of French rugby, and Lions’ Guy Cronje.
Alfred “Daddy” Sairai, who displayed exceptional ball carrying capabilities on the local rugby scene this year, and Germany-based Manasah Sita have bounced back.
Zimbabwe will play Namibia in the opening fixture on Friday November 8, while Kenya will face Zimbabwe on November 12, with the final game set for four days later between the hosts and the East Africans.
Meanwhile, Madagascar will next April again play hosts to the Africa Cup despite having hosted this year’s championships.
The Africa Cup will be played on a round robin format with the World Cup qualifier set to start on June 28, 2014.
The format of the tournament has been changed and will be played on a round robin basis.
Sables extended squad:
Tatenda Murwira (OH), Kudzai Mudzekenyedzi (Mat Warriors), Fidel Nyabusha (HSC), Denford Mutamangira (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), Nick Winwood (Blackheath, England), Alfred Sairai (OH), Pieter Joubert (OGs), Jakov Jakov (OGs), Keith Murray (OGs), Royal Mwale (Ballito Dolphins, SA), Sanele Sibanda (Harlequins, SA), Jan Ferreira (Mat Warriors), Simbarashe Bwanya (College Rovers, SA), Costa Dinha (OH), Michael Passaportis (Valence, France), Kingsley Lang (Jersey, England), Fortune Chipendo (OGs) Jacques Leitao (OGs), Tawanda Chowe (OH), Andrew Rose (Boroughmuir, Scotland), Biselele Tshamala (Varsity College, SA), Lucky Sithole (Mat Warriors), Njabulo Ndlovu (University of Western Cape, SA), Phil Machisa (HSC), Ian Armstrong (OGs), Hilton Mudariki (Amersham & Chiltern, England), Teddy Hwata (HSC), Guy Cronje (Lions, SA), Boyd Rouse (OGs), Lenience Tambwera (HSC), Tichafara Makwanya (OH), Garth Ziegler (OGs), Daniel Hondo (HSC), Tatas Mutataguta (OGs), Simbarashe Chirimuuta (HSC), Leroy Mashiri (OH), Sean Moen (Blackheath, England), Takudzwa Chieza (OH), Manasah Sita (RG Heidelberg, Germany), Patrick Tenesi (OH), Shayne Makombe (HSC), Tafadzwa Chitokwindo (Varsity College, SA), Gardner Nechironga (OH), Kudakwashe Chiwanza (OGs), Lungile Tshuma (OH), Tangai Nemadire (OH), Courtney Mwatsiya (Mat Warriors).
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