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Jack Charsley (captain)

Mehluli Sibanda in Johannesburg, South Africa
WHILE most Zimbabwean rugby players aspire to secure good deals from South African franchises, universities or academies when they come to the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, Junior Sables’ skipper Jack Charsley has no such ambitions.

The Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week captain has instead set his eyes on playing for the senior Sables in a few years to come.

Speaking to the media after his team lost all three matches they played in at the annual schoolboy rugby tournament in Johannesburg, Charsley, a Form Six pupil at Falcon College in Esigodini, declared his intention to stay put in Zimbabwe for an apprenticeship when he concludes his high school and then turn out for the Sables.

“My plan is to do an apprenticeship in Zimbabwe, so I am hoping to join the Sables as soon as I can. I will be around in Zimbabwe,” said Charsley.
Further probing revealed that Charsley, a prefect and head of George Gray House at the Esigodini private school, is eying an apprenticeship as a diesel plant fitter.

Zimbabwean rugby players are constantly poached by South African schools and Charsley’s commitment to playing for the Sables must come as a great relief to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.

Most players that left Zimbabwe after representing the Junior Sables at the Craven Week have not made themselves available for the Sables.
Charsley must have been inspired by former Falcon College captain Connor Pritchard, who in 2016 graduated to playing for the Sables, having led the Zimbabwe Under-20 side in the same year.

Pritchard has established himself in the senior team and started at open side flank for the Sables against Kenya in their Rugby Africa Gold Cup fixture at Hartsfield on Saturday, which the Kenyans won 41-22.

The 18-year-old Charsley impressed scouts that kept a close eye on the Zimbabwean lads throughout the week at St Stithians College.

A flanker blessed with immense ball carrying skills, Charsley was one of the few outstanding players for Zimbabwe during a disappointing Craven Week in which they lost all their three matches.

On the three defeats they suffered at the Craven Week, Charsley felt that as captain, he didn’t guide the team the way he should have.

“Especially as the captain, it makes me feel as though I haven’t done my job correctly. I haven’t led the boys correctly, which is a weight on my shoulders that I will have to overcome,” he said.

Charsley is convinced that they took some positives from the Craven Week, with the players having learnt a lot about the game.

“From the team’s point of view, I think many players have learnt quite a few lessons, like they always say, it’s not about winning all the time, a loss does teach you a lot of things. Although we didn’t want three losses, it has happened and people have learnt from it,” Charsley said.

Zimbabwe lost 17-72 to Leopards, 14-34 to Eastern Province Country Districts and 21-45 against Namibia.

Their poor record now stands at just one win in 12 matches at the annual schoolboy rugby fiesta since 2014. Their only triumph during this period came last year against Griquas Country District, who they beat 16-9 at Kearsney College in Durban. — @Mdawini_29