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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S preparations for the Africa Rugby Gold Cup campaign will take another giant leap forward when a President’s XV side feature in two international assignments against South African sides in Pretoria next week. The Sables will kick start their Africa Gold Cup with a home test against Morocco at Harare Sports Club on June 16 and coach Peter De Villiers and his men are working to fine tune their act.

On Sunday they will leave for a week-long tour of South Arica during which they will play three games against Select sides from that country in Pretoria.

Sables team manager, Kisset Chirengende, in announcing the travelling party last night revealed that the national team, which play as the President’s XV on this tour, would get their tour underway with a clash against a Blue Bulls Select on May 22.

“The Presidents XV squad to is to play two games in Pretoria and they will start on the 22nd (May) against a Bulls Select and 25th of May at Loftus B against a Blue Bulls mix of Under-21 and Supersport Challenge Cup Squad. They leave Sunday 20th and return on the 27th May,’’ Chirengende said.

The Sables team manager, credited with arranging the annual Blue Bulls tour of Zimbabwe including this year’s visit by the South African rugby giants last month, said De Villiers and his technical crew would use the two games in Pretoria as part of a fine-tuning exercise.

With some of their shortcomings having been exposed last month when the Sables, featuring for a Select side – the Steelers – hosted the Blue Bulls at Harare Sports Club.

The bulk of the players who featured for Steelers have also been retained for this tour with big tighthead prop Denford Mutamangira the leader of the pack.

Although some of the country’s foreign-based players are missing on this tour, Chirengende said their trip to South Africa would help De Villiers and his assistant Brendon Dawson apply the game plans they have for the Africa Cup.

President XV Squad:
Tapfuma Parirenyatwa
David Makanda
Connor Pritchard
Fortunate Chipendu
Brian Nyaude
Farai Mudariki
Denford Mtamangira
Matthew Mandioma
Gabriel Sipapate
Kudakwashe Nyamufaringa
Jannie Stander
Johan Stander
Biselele Tshamala
Njabulo Ndlovu
Kevin Nqindi
Lawrence Cleminson
Michael Botha
Shingirai Katsvere
Takudzwa Mandiwanza
Kudzai Mashawi
Brendon Mandivenga
Mathew Macnab
Linience Tambwera
Hilton Mudariki
Peter du Toit
Ernest Mudzengerere
Ngoni Chibuwe
Dylan Baptista
Ziyanda Edmond Khupe
Riaan O’Neill
Kuziva Kazembe
Takudzwa Kumadiro
Management:
Peter De Villiers
Brendon Dawson
Kisset Chirengende
Kwayedza Chiwara
Taurayi Chipamaunga
Abigail Mnikwa