Harare — Local rugby league will this weekend take a break as it makes way for the national teams' selection this weekend at Harare Sports Club.

This will be the first stage in the selection of the men's Under-21 team, the women's Sevens team and the Sables -- who are taking part in the World Cup qualifiers and Africa Cup competitions.

And schools will also be selecting their provincial sides with Harare games set for St Johns College this afternoon, the eastern schools at Peterhouse, Masvingo schools at Kyle College and Bulawayo schools at Hartsfield Rugby Ground. But most of the attention will be on the selection of the senior men's side -- that will travel to Zambia for their international friendly against the northern neighbours next weekend. The Sables squad will be named soon after the inter-provincial tournament on Sunday.

Harare Provincial Rugby Football Board chairman Terrence Chambati yesterday said preparations for the two-day event were well on course. "It has been good so far and we will be running around tomorrow (today) for the final touches so that we will not have any problems during the event. "Accommodation and food for all the teams that will be taking part has been sorted out and so have been the general logistics for the games," said Chambati.

Being the rugby stronghold in Zimbabwe, Harare Province have confirmed a total of five teams -- one women's team, two senior teams and the same number for the Under-21s -- will take part.

Matabeleland will have three teams (one in each of the categories) representing the Southern League while Midlands only have a men's side.

Mashonaland East and Manicaland will play in the Under-21s as the Easterns.

National Under-18 coach Godwin "Jaws" Murambiwa said the juniors will have the national trials in two weeks' time at Peterhouse where a squad for the South African Craven Week rugby side will be picked.