Zimbabwe, the 33rd-ranking member union on the IRB table, has put in place steps to fill out its international calendar, hosting a tri-nations tournament between itself, Zambia and Botswana some time in April/May, according to an article in Newsday. Nicknamed the Sables, the rugby team from this politically tumultuous African nation appeared at the first two Rugby World Cups in 1987 and 1991, their best result being a narrow 20-21 defeat to Romania.
Since then, the Sables' fortunes have taken a nosedive with the country able to produce talented players, such as Gary Teichmann, Bobby Skinstad and Tendai Mtawarira, but unable to retain them due to an underdeveloped rugby infrastructure and nationwide economic strife. Although, the Zimbabweans should canter to victory at the mid-year meet against their lower-ranked opponents, the tournament will act as important preparation running up to the annual Victoria Cup, involving the Sables, Kenya and Uganda; virtually a mirror of the Division 1A of the 2012 Africa Cup in which the three teams involved will be joined by Tunisia.
Watch Zimbabwe beat Kenya 26-21 in last year's Victoria Cup final in Nairobi. (Courtesy of KTN)
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