SABLES head coach Brendan Dawson believes the coming of Grant Mitchell as the team’s new strength and conditioning coach is a step in the right direction as Zimbabwe braces for the final qualifying round for the 2015 Rugby World Cup next year.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) recently roped in the Old Georgians player-coach into the national side’s technical department.
Mitchell, a former ZRU general manager, has already started work in his new position ahead of next month’s season-ending tour of Namibia.
Strength and conditioning for rugby players is becoming increasingly important. The modern game is becoming faster and players are getting bigger and conditioning of players not only enables them to play better rugby, but also reduce the risk of injuries.
Dawson admitted the flagship national rugby was still lagging behind in the area of strength and conditioning, adding the team would start reaping the fruits of Mitchell’s input when they head to Madagascar for the final Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament next year.
“We are obviously delighted to have him) in the technical team. We are always looking for new ideas so we could improve and move forward as a team and the coming in of Grant Mitchell as the strength and conditioning coach is definitely the way to go.
“He has a lot of experience in the field of strength and conditioning and will definitely make a difference in terms of the fitness levels of our players.
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“Honestly I think it’s an area where we have been lagging behind in the past and I believe Kenya showed just how important it is to have such structures when they beat us in Madagascar. The Namibia tour might not be an indicator of how important strength and conditioning is, but I’m certain that by the time we go to Madagascar next year we will be reaping the benefits,” Dawson said.
A fitness enthusiast Mitchell, who played for both the national 7s and the Sables, is a sports science degree holder and IRB-sanctioned strength and conditioning coach.
He will work closely with Dawson and his assistant Cyprian Mandenge.
The Sables are expected to go into camp on October 31 in Bulawayo ahead of an invitational tri-nation tournament in Namibia involving the hosts, Kenya and Zimbabwe set for November 8-16.
