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ZIMBABWE Rugby Union (ZRU) have commendably moved to undertake early preparations for the senior national team, the Sables’ Africa Cup title defence by undertaking a tour of the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.

 The Sables began that tour with a thumping 62-22 win over the UAE in Dubai and will now look to get an even tougher test from the Koreans.

In undertaking the tour, the bigger picture of the ZRU bid is for Zimbabwe to end more than three decades of waiting to return to the glamourous World Cup arena.

The Sables were last at the World Cup in 1991 and since then qualification has been a long shot with the Sables often coming close.

Refreshingly for the national game is the commitment that the ZRU have put towards preparations.

We believe that the ZRU and all key stakeholders must make the on-going Sables tour count in that it should lay a strong foundation upon, which youthful coach Piet Benade and his squad can build their 2025 Africa Cup campaign.

Similarly, the ZRU must spread the commitment they have shown to the Sables to the campaigns of other national teams such as the Women’s side, the Sevens Team – the Cheetahs- and the Under-20 squad known as the Junior Sables.

The Junior Sables are also looking to fight for the title in the 2025 Barthes Trophy campaign and with it secure a place at the Junior World Trophy, which in turn offers them a platform to challenge for a place at the more elite Junior World Championships.

But obviously there is nothing that beats the World Cup and having our Sables lining up against the likes of the South African Springboks, All Blacks of New Zealand and Australian Wallabies. That is the ultimate goal of every local rugby player.

And Benade to his eternal credit has been reaching out to all players, who are eligible and willing to play for Zimbabwe and has been gradually blending youth and experience.

One of the talking points of the Sables’ big win over UAE was the performance of Zimbabwe wingers Edward Sigauke and Trevor Gurwe.

A recent graduate of the Zimbabwe Under-20 set-up, Sigauke is arguably one of the finds of 2024 as the speedster has put up storied performances for both the Cheetahs and the Sables.

Gurwe, another new addition to the Sables set-up – possess not only the skill and speed, to match his fellow winger, but great power too.

Whether it happens now or later in their careers, the number 12 and 14 positions belong to the two young players and other players of such talent and this augurs well for the future of the game.

The ZRU will do well to form a synergy between the Under-20 and Sables set-up with the former acting as a proper feeder into the latter.

One of the ways could be to have Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza working closely with Benade.

De Souza has a working system in place, what with the “Grass Roots to Greatness” programme and the Nedbank Rugby Challenge project.

The Barthes Trophy and subsequent Junior Rugby Trophy and Championships, could provide a platform for Benade to scout for talent.

Benade has already brought in Cheetahs coach Ricky Chirengende.

Depth will be key for the Zimbabwe Sables ensemble going forward as Sigauke and Gurwe are not the only new faces into the senior men’s squad.

The fact that the likes of former Wallabies man Kyle Godwin are now part of the Zimbabwe ensemble should bring impetus to the Sables.

Godwin, now 32-years-old, has since become the latest of the growing number of names to retrace their Zimbabwean roots and play for their country, following in the path of Ian Prior.

Former All Blacks and Highlanders loose forward, Gareth Evans, who won his only cap against Japan in 2018, is said to be considering the switch, while former Junior Springbok lock Eli Snyman also appears to be in the frame amongst a few others.

However, we believe the focus should not only be on the Zimbabweans dotted around the globe but those of similar capacity and talent, who are also around the country’s provinces.

The ball has been set rolling with the UAE and Korean tours and the ZRU must ensure that they do not take the foot off the pedal.

Once athletes’ interests are catered for, they will be more focused on the job and results will become much easier to attain and we firmly believe that the Sables have the pedigree to punch their ticket to the 2027 World Cup.