The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S official, Zimbabwe’s blockbuster 2019 Rugby World Cup fixture against Namibia will be played at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo on 4 August.
That will be Namibia’s first fifteens rugby match on Zimbabwean soil with the last meeting between the two teams in Zimbabwe dating way back to 2002, again in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Aaron Jani said the communication has been made to all stakeholders that the match is being played in Bulawayo. When Rugby Africa released the fixtures for this year’s Gold Cup, the Sables’ home matches were all put down to be played at Police Grounds in Harare. Jani however said Zimbabwe’s first match, on 16 June against Morocco is taking place at Harare Sports Club while the tie with Namibia is at Hartsfield.
The ZRU president said plans were already in place for the match in Bulawayo with the provincial chairman Thulani Tabulawa chairing the local organising committee.
“It’s now official, hosting plans are at an advanced stage for the Namibia match in Bulawayo, Thulani Tabulawa is the chairman of the LOC. The communication was made, the match is definitely in Bulawayo. We are in discussions with Titan Law as far as doing some renovations at Hartsfield,’’ Jani said.
Namibia last played in Zimbabwe in June 2002 in a 2003 Rugby World Cup qualifier at Hartsfield, a match the Namibians won 42-30. Zimbabwe have only beaten Namibia three times in 31 matches. Zimbabwe’s last win over Namibia came in July 2001 when the Sables beat the Welwitschias 27-26 in an African Championship encounter at Hartsfield.
Renovations are also being carried out at Harare Sports in preparation for the match against Morocco.
“The Harare match is taking place at Harare Sports Club, we are also sprucing up the venue, doing minor renovations to make sure the venue is in a better condition,’’ Jani said.
Meanwhile, the Sables step up their preparations for their first match of the Gold Cup when they leave the country today for South Africa where they will play two matches in Pretoria. The Peter de Villiers coached Sables, playing as the President’s XV are taking on a Blue Bulls Select on Tuesday before they clash with a Blue Bulls mix of Under-21 and SuperSport Challenge Cup players on Friday.
Zimbabwe President XV: Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, David Makanda, Connor Pritchard, Fortune Chipendu, Brian Nyaude, Farai Mudariki, Denford Mutamangira, Matthew Mandioma, Gabriel Sipapati, Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, Jannie Stander, Biselele Tshamala, Njabulo Ndlovu, Kevin Nqindi, Lawrence Cleminson, Michael Botha, Shingirai Katsvere, Kudzai Mashawi, Brendon Mandivenga, Matthew McNab, Lenience Tambwera, Hilton Mudariki, Peter due Toit, Ernest Mudzengerere, Ngoni Chibuwe, Ziyanda Khupe, Riaan O’Neil, Kuziva Kazembe, Takudzwa Kumadiro- @Mdawini_29
