Zimpapers Logo

Senior Sports Reporter
DUE to Sables’ involvement in the International Rugby Board 2015 World Cup playoffs, National Rugby League matches which were due to resume tomorrow have been postponed to July 26.
Zimbabwe will take on Russia on the first weekend of August in a one-legged first round of the World Cup qualifier playoffs in Siberia.

Theo Weale, NRL fixtures secretary said the postponement of resumption of matches is to afford the Sables enough time to prepare for Russia who are ranked 20 in the world.

The Sables, on position 27, were left to fight another day for an automatic Rugby World Cup ticket to England next year when they achieved a three try 28-10 win over Kenya in Madagascar last Sunday, finishing second to Namibia in the African qualifiers.

“We had set July 12 as the date to resume our games with the view that the Sables would have qualified for the World Cup. Logically after living to fight another day, as a league we saw it proper to restart our programme later this month when they are done with their selection process and allow the national team coaches to have more uninterrupted time with the players,” said Weale.

Should Zimbabwe beat Russia, then they will meet the winner of the game between Uruguay and Hong Kong on a home and away basis for the remaining World Cup ticket.

Some of the players from the NRL clubs are Old Georgians’ 19-year-old prop Farai Mudariki, speed merchants Stephan Hunduza and Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, experienced Tangai Nemadire and Gerald Sibanda.

Old Hararians flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya who was also left out in the cold for the Madagascar tour alongside Gardner Nechironga who is Sables’ leading try scorer in the last three years and versatile forward Fortune Chipendu are some of the local players that will be hoping to impress coaches so that they are included for the Russia must-win game.

Sables squad that went to Madagascar
Forwards: Farai Mudariki, Jan Ferreira, Schalk Ferreira, Pieter Joubert, Lambert Groenewald, Graeme Lawler, Jacques Leitao, Matthew Mandioma, Keith Murray, Denford Mutamangira, Njabulo Ndlovu, Kevin Nqindi, Kingsley Lang, Sanele Sibanda, Lawrence Clemenson

Backs: Daniel Hondo (capt), Danny Robertson, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza, Peter Du Toit, Hilton Mudariki, Guy Cronje, Tangai Nemadire, Riaan O’Neill, Lenience Tambwera, Gerald Sibanda