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OLD Georgians Sports Club will host the first round of rugby action when the Under-21 Harare Provincial League makes a return to the capital in 18 years this afternoon. Nine teams are set to take part in the competition.

XP Horns’ second-string side, playing as Alex, replace Old Hararians who withdrew after indicating that they do not have the numbers to come up with an Under-21 squad.

Other teams in the league include Hatcliffe, Mbare, Old Johannians, Southern City, Harare Sports Club, Mabvuku Old Mutual Select, Chitungwiza Old Mutual select.

League secretary Chris Katogu said next week the league will break, to make way for the Super Rugby pre-season clash between South African giants Vodacom Blue Bulls, who arrived in the country yesterday and the Toyota Cheetahs who are expected in next week.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union general manager Sifiso Made told Sportszone that they are yet to get a sponsor for the tournament, but this will not stop the first round action.

“The first round of games will get underway on Saturday and most of the teams in this competition are developmental teams. We have been running the Old Mutual Community Cup for three years now, but that is an Under-18 tournament.

“So players that graduated from the Old Mutual Community Cup over the past years, those that graduated from high schools, but are not in club systems or those in varsity ,will make up the majority of the numbers.

“As the Old Mutual Community Cup we had centres in Mabvuku, Tafara, Mbare, Seke, and Zengeza and we also had the same set-up in Bulawayo, but to this there is also XP Horns who have indicated interest in the tournament,” said Made.

XP Horns is a team comprising mostly of former Old Johannians second-string players who have since parted ways with the club and are now based at Alex Sports Club.

Fixtures

Chitungwiza Old Mutual v Mabvuku (12pm), Old Johannians v Hatcliffe (1.30pm), Alex v Mbare (3pm), Harare Sports Club v XP Horns ( 4pm) — sportszone.co.zw