Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Paul Munyuki
3 July 2009
Harare — THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union has this year cancelled the annual inter-provincial tournament that is used as a basis for selecting national team players for the Sables.
The Sables are set to take part in the Confederation of African Rugby tournament in two weeks' time in Gaborone where teams that did not qualify for the Africa Cup semi-finals will be playing.
This tournament will run for a week in Botswana and is aimed at keeping teams that are not taking part in the Africa Cup active this year as there are no major games.
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Madagascar are some of the teams that are expected to take part at the tournament.
ZRU president Themba Sibanda indicated that they were not going to hold the inter-provincial tournament this year as there are barely other provinces that have senior clubs in action.
"The inter pros are usually held around March/April but this year, we have shelved the idea because if we look at the structure of the provinces in Zimbabwe we find that only Harare and Bulawayo are playing rugby.
"Most of the rugby is played in Harare with Bulawayo having only two teams in the national league so since teams from Bulawayo are playing in the national league we found no reason of having the inter pros."
Harare has 10 active teams and Bulawayo has two teams namely Old Miltonians and Western Panthers.
Harare has become the nucleus of rugby in Zimbabwe and it is these clubs that have been dominating over the past few years.
"The selectors have been watching the players since the games are played at a central place and they know who could make it into the national team."
The lack of supportive provincial structures has been one of the things that has seen the fall of the game in the country and Sibanda acknowledges the need for a proper national league.
"I have been going around the country trying to revive the provincial structures and at the moment, I can say Manicaland could soon have a structure to support the games in the provinces.
"Midlands have (at least) three teams in their province but they have just been playing touch rugby and they also just need to get the right people to organise for their structures as well," said the former Harare Sports Club chairman.
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