The Sunday News
Innocent Kurira , Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) has appointed Piet Benade as the new Sables interim head coach.
He replaces Brandon Dawson.
Benade previously served as assistant coach, under Dawson. The new coach’s first challenge will be a home test match against Zambia in May.
This will be followed by the Africa Cup, which will be held in Uganda this July.
The tournament will serve as the first phase of Africa’s qualifiers for the next Rugby World Cup in Australia, in 2027.
Teams set to take part in that tournament are Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria.
ZRU vice-president, Martin Shone said they have all the confidence in the new coach.
“We are excited to have Benade as the head coach. We are confident he will take the team to the next level. We wish him all the best and we are fully behind him on his new journey,” said Shone.
The 42-year-old Benade is best remembered in Zimbabwe as a magnificent playmaker for Harare’s Prince Edward Boys High School, around the turn of the millennium.
After his playing days were over, Benade ventured into coaching in Cape Town, where he coached at Rondebosch Boys High School and at the False Bay Club.
On his return home, Benade has been an assistant coach under outgoing Zimbabwe head coach Dawson.
He has also coached local club giants Old Hararians.
Benade is also a former Western Province fly-half.
In international rugby, Benade earned just a handful of caps for his country, as first-class rugby in South Africa took centre stage at the peak of his career.
Meanwhile, the Junior Sables will open their Barthes Trophy campaign with a clash against Tunisia, on 20 April.
Zimbabwe will play host to the four-team tournament at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.
It will run till 28 April.
The Junior Sables are the Barthes Trophy defending champions and will be looking to make it three wins in a row, after claiming the 2022 and 2023 editions.
The winner of this year’s Barthes Trophy will then join Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States of America or Canada in Pool B of the World Ruby Under-20 Trophy set for 2-17 July in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Zimbabwe is in camp, with Coach Shaun De Souza hoping to use the Nedbank Rugby Challenge, which is a local pre-season tournament, as part of his preparations for both the Barthes Trophy and, hopefully, the Junior World Trophy.
Fixtures
Match Day 1
Kenya v Namibia
Zimbabwe v Tunisia
Match Day 2
Kenya v Tunisia
Zimbabwe v Namibia
Match Day 3
Namibia v Tunisia
Zimbabwe v Kenya
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