Zimbabwe continued their preparations for next year’s Rugby Africa Cup with high profile friendly match between their A side against the Bulawayo Province select side at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Saturday.
The sparring contest which was watched by a good crowd was convincingly by the Zimbabwe A side by a runaway 80-6 scoreline.
Zimbabwe head coach Pieter Benade, who recently led the Sables to the Africa Cup title in Uganda, emphasised that the match was about more than just the score as he continues to search for new talent ahead of next year’s continental tournament which will serve as the qualifiers for the next Rugby World Cup.
“Our goal was to share our Africa Cup success with Bulawayo and provide our players with valuable competitive experience,” he stated.
“The Bulawayo Province team gave us a great challenge, and this match will help us continue our journey towards World Cup qualification next year.”
The post-match festivities showcased the renewed enthusiasm for rugby at Hartsfield, which had faced challenges due to infrastructure deterioration, low revenue, and water access issues.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Losson Mtongwiza expressed his delight in seeing the resurgence of rugby at Hartsfield.
“The problems facing this ground are evident, but I’m pleased that the union and our provincial offices are actively working with stakeholders like Bulawayo Municipality to address them,” he said. “The large turnout of over 1,000 people, taking selfies with players and the two trophies, is a clear indication of the potential for investment and development in this venue.”