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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) is next week set to announce the national team’s sponsor for the forthcoming Under-20 Rugby World Cup that will be held at the Harare Sports Club.

The second tier tournament is pencilled for April 19 to May 1, and a total of seven countries will descend on the capital to battle it out for the gong. The countries include Uruguay, Fiji, Namibia, Hong Kong, Spain, Samoa and the victors between Canada and the United States of America, who will play their final qualifier for the last slot next month.

Zimbabwe will become only the second African country to host the second tier Under-20 Rugby World Cup after Kenya, who hosted the tournament in 2009.

The Junior Sables’ have started a series of camps and converged in Harare last week after breaking from their initial camp in December for the festive holiday.

ZRU marketing consultant Hugo Ribatika said they were working tirelessly to secure major deals and one could be finalised any time next week.

“Preparations are going on well as the team has started camp. We’re also working on a sponsorship package that we’ll hopefully announce next week,” said Ribatika.

“However, this doesn’t mean we are in a good position. We are still continuing with our search and I appeal to the business community for support as this is going to be a massive tournament that will go a long way in reviving the game in the country.”

ZRU director of rugby Bright Chivandire said the team would hold two more camps between now and March before regrouping fulltime for the tournament.

“We’re trying our level best to negotiate with potential sponsors, but in terms of camp, we are on track. We’re going to hold two more before the final one going into the tournament in late March,” Chivandire said.