THE Zimbabwe rugby team returned to the top 30 on the International Rugby Board (IRB) rankings following their 29-14 win over African champions Kenya on Friday at the Tri-Nations Rugby Series held in Windhoek, Namibia, last week.
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The Sables, as the national XVs side is affectionately known, had a fairly successful tour of Namibia, losing to the hosts 35-26 in their opening match, before restoring some pride with the victory over Kenya.
According to the IRB, the Sables were one of the biggest climbers when the rankings were updated yesterday, jumping two places from position 32 to 30.
Kenya on the other hand dropped three places to 34th after losing twice in the last seven days, 14-29 to Zimbabwe and 35 -55 to Namibia on Saturday.
Namibia, who won the Tri-Nations Rugby Series on their home turf, are unchanged on position 23 and will be the favourites going into the final stage of African qualification for Rugby World Cup 2015 next year.
Meanwhile, following the recent conclusion of the domestic XVs rugby season, attention now shifts to the Sevens (7s) format of the game.
The local Sevens season got underway at the weekend with the start of the Spar&Lion 7s Summer series legs in Harare and Bulawayo.
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The Zimbabwe Rugby Union also named a 24-man training squad to go into camp on November 27 in preparation for the IRB World Series event in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, from December 7. Also included in the training squad are eight developing players who will form the basis of a national rugby academy structure for the future.
In a statement ZRU said the academy programme is part of the new 7s Strategic plan for the development of the game in Zimbabwe and its drive towards developing future 7s Olympians.
Zimbabwe 7s Training squad: Fortune Chipendu, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tawanda Chowe, Stephan Hunduza, Farai Jijita, Jacques Leitao, Kilvan Magunje, Shayne Makombe, Wes Mbanje, Hilton Mudariki, Njabulo Ndlovu, Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire, Dan Nicholl, Boyd Rouse, Manasah Sita, Lenience Tambwera, Biselele Tshamala, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Lungile Tshuma, Sean Chigumbura, Kuda Chiwanza, Kingsley Lang, Teddy Hwata Development players: Sean Coles, Sebastian Roch, Brendon Boshi, Sean Coles, Shepherd Mhembere, Morgan Vangue, Tafadzwa Mukonyora, Takudzwa Mukonyora, Tafadzwa Kumadiro, Mkhululi Ndlela
