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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
AFTER almost two decades, international games are set to return to the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean rugby at the Police Grounds when the Sables host Kenya in their Africa Cup opener in July.

The last time Zimbabwe played at the Police Grounds at Morris Depot in Harare was on May 17, 1997 when the Sables suffered a 13-42 loss at the hands of Tonga and 19 years down the line, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union “want to go back to their roots”.

ZRU vice-president Nody Kanyangarara yesterday said with the game growing in numbers — both in participation and spectatorship — most venues in Harare have become very small thus the need to use a “more friendly” venue like the Police Grounds.

“We want to spread the game as much as we can. The Police Grounds conform to the international standards required by Rugby Africa and the fact that both Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians have become too small for the growing game also count.

“Players can come out of the changing rooms and go directly onto the field and it is one venue where fans do not have to worry about their safety or security issue,” said Kanyangarara.

Police Grounds hosted its first league rugby games last weekend when Old Georgians beat Old Hararians, with Police Defenders earning their first league victory over Mutare Sports Club while ailing giants Harare Sports Club edged Old Johannians.

“Interest in the game has grown and this year we have seen an increase in the number of spectators coming to watch league rugby which means when it comes to the national team, there could be bigger numbers coming to watch,” Kanyangarara said.

Last year the Sables played two home Tests — against Kenya and Tunisia — and they were staged at Prince Edward School while Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians and Old Georgians Sports Club have also hosted international matches previously.

“There are some limitations when it comes to hosting senior national rugby games at schools because we cannot encourage the sale or consumption of alcohol there.

“Prince Edward School’s Jubilee Field last year proved a bit small because there was an overwhelming number of people who turned out to watch the Sables play.

“Sitting space at Old Hararians and Harare Sports Club is much limited compared to the Police Grounds and we have worked with the Police Defenders team in the league and having hosted games there last weekend, we were excited about the facilities there,” said the former Sables manager.

But the ZRU is not just considering sitting space as they are also looking at the business side of playing at the Police Grounds.

“Last week’s league games at the Police Grounds made a lot of business sense because of the affordable food and drink prices at the facility. \

“When we went back to the Police General Headquarters offices on Monday we got a reception much better than we had expected and this shows a growing relationship.

“So we only await their positive response in the next day or two,” added Kanyangarara.

However, the former National Rugby League president also told The Herald that they are negotiating with Rugby Africa so that their July 23 home Test against Uganda be played at Bulawayo’s Hartsfield Grounds.

“We are of the perception that we should spread the games and so at the moment we are trying to negotiate with Rugby Africa that the game against Uganda be played in Bulawayo. But the biggest challenge we are faced with is that they had already made the flight bookings.

“The cost of changing their booking so that they land in Bulawayo is a bit on the high charges side,” he said.