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Sports Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union have extended the contract of the senior national team head coach Brendan Dawson to October 2023.

Dawson’s contact was reviewed during an executive meeting held on August 3 with ZRU chief executive, Sifiso Made, confirming the latest development.

“A technical review was held with head coach Dawson following the end of Rugby World Cup campaign. As a union we saw it prudent to review Dawson’s contract for continuity’s sake and we have always believed in the coach.

“The team did well and Dawson is well vested with the team’s capabilities and the players. We were impressed with what the coach managed to achieve, which is why we gave him the opportunity.

“Our target is to make sure that we continue with the technical team,” said Made.

The Sables bowed out of contention for a place at next year’s Rugby World Cup after succumbing  34-19 to Namibia in the semi-finals of the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup at the Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence, France, in July, putting Dawson’s future on the line.

The defeat extinguished the Zimbabwe senior rugby side’s dream of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1991.

Dawson had a promising start in the qualifiers with a convincing win over Ivory Coast but they lost 20-12 against North Africans, Algeria in the third place playoff match to finish the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup campaign a disappointing fourth.