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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
VETERAN rugby administrator Nyararai Sibanda is the new Zimbabwe Rugby Union president following elections held at Prince Edwards High School in Harare yesterday.

Sibanda, who was the union’s vice-president, takes over from John Falkenburg, who did not seek re-election.

The former Highlanders’ Rugby Club official polled seven votes to his challenger, former national team player Aaron Jani’s three, while one ballot was spoilt. Hwange Rugby Club official Victor Rakabopa withdrew citing pressing personal issues.

Tapiwa Mangezi got 10 votes to land the vice-president (South) slot against Matabeleland Football Rugby Board boss Theo Weale, who got one vote. Nord Kanyangarara was elected vice-president (North) after getting nine votes to Joe Kawonza’s two.

“The elections were tense, but fair. Our immediate action now will be to complement our dwindling club figures by roping in more police, army and university teams into our league. Our clubs are not well resourced, but the police, army and universities have decent funding.

All we need to do is to assign our own technical people into these clubs,” said Sibanda.

He said they would also ensure that all provinces have strong administration structures instead of one-man committees.

“We will induct new provincial committees on how the sport is run. We also need to ride on our partnership with Old Mutual by giving them more mileage through taking rugby to areas that we have not been to before,” Sibanda said.