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Blessing Chiutare

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE have paid the price for awful performance at the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, as the Junior Sables will not be part of next year’s revamped competition.

The South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced yesterday that Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eastern Province Country Districts and Border Country Districts will only play in the Coca-Cola Academy Week and no longer field Under-18 Craven Week teams.

Instead, Saru said in a fresh introduction to the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions and Western Province will field invitational sides in addition to their regular Coca-Cola Craven Week teams.

The Under-18 Craven Week and Under-18 Academy Week will be held at Paarl Boys High in the Western Cape from July 8-14 in celebration of the school’s 150th anniversary.

Saru chief executive officer Jurie Roux said the makeover was necessitated by the need to bring competiveness to the Youth Weeks.

“Two of the main objectives of the SA Rugby Youth Weeks are to create a platform for the players to test their skills and develop as players against the best possible opponents and the best way to achieve that is by ensuring that all the matches are competitive,” Roux said.

He is convinced the modification will be advantageous to the teams taking part in both tournaments and add more enthusiasm.

“We believe these changes will benefit the participating players and teams in both competitions, and contribute to a more exciting product for the spectators alike,” he said.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) chief executive officer Blessing Chiutare said they have not received any communication from Saru.

Chiutare said if there is no contact from Saru, ZRU will take the initiative to communicate and find out the exact position.

“We have not received any communication from Saru. We will wait 48 hours then get in touch with them,” said Chiutare.

Zimbabwe have taken part in the Craven Week since 1964, although there are years they did not participate.

In 12 matches played at the Craven Week from 2014 to 2017, the Junior Sables have recorded just one victory, a 16-9 win over Griquas Country Districts in Durban in 2016. They lost all the three matches they played at the Craven Week in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

The country added an Academy Week team at this year’s competition which fared better with one win and two losses.

Being booted out of the Craven Week is yet another setback for Zimbabwean rugby as the Sables last month lost their slot at the Hong Kong Four Nations tournament, which takes place in November every year, due to poor results.

In what has been a disastrous year, the national sevens rugby side lost 12-14 to Zambia in the Zambia International Sevens tournament held in Lusaka on Sunday. Just a few years ago, a third-string Zimbabwe side would easily beat Zambia.

The Sports and Recreation Commission last month suspended the Nyararai Sibanda led ZRU board pending an investigating into problems bedevilling the game.

An interim structure headed by former Sables’ wing Russell Karimazondo was appointed to take charge at the end of August. — @Mdawini_29.