ZIMBABWE Sables coach Cyprian Mandenge and national Under-20 mentor Brendon Brider are heading off to France for a World Rugby Level Three coaching course early next month.
The two coaches are going to be in France from 3 to 9 May for the course that will be conducted at the French National Rugby Centre in Marcoussis, just outside Paris. It is the same venue where the French national rugby team prepares for international matches.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union spokesperson Godfrey Koti said the national rugby governing body was assisting the two coaches with expenses associated with the trip together with World Rugby Union as well as the French Rugby Union.
Mandenge, previously assistant coach to Brendan Dawson was elevated to the position of Sables early this year while Brider, a former Under-18 assistant coach replaced Nsikelelo Sibanda as the Under-20 head coach.
ZRU director of rugby Brighton Chivandire is the only locally based Zimbabwean coach with a modern day World Rugby Level Three coaching certificate, the highest offered by the world rugby governing body with the rest of the mentors being holders of Level Two and Level One qualifications.
Speaking during the recently staged Power Sales Schools Rugby Festival at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo, Chivandire emphasised the need for more coaches to be upgraded to higher coaching qualifications.