Sables squad to be finalised after trials

By Newsday | Jun. 19, 2014

THE Sables’ technical department is expected to finalise the final 26-member touring squad for next week’s 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers later this month after the trial match to be held at Harare Sports Club tomorrow evening.

Zimbabwe kicked off their training camp ahead of the decisive qualifiers in Madagascar on Monday with the bulk of the players making up the 31-member provisional squad and head coach Brendan Dawson reporting for camp. Some of the players namely the Golden Lions duo of Guy Cronje and Lambert Groenewald and loose forward Njabulo Ndlovu are expected to join camp today.

However, in a statement yesterday, Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) said Friday evening’s trial match which will pit a Probables XV against a Possibles XV would be the team’s last preparation before the final squad announcement.

“The Zimbabwe national team, commonly known as the Sables, have been hard at work in their 10-day camp in Harare,” the statement read.

“The Zimbabwe team are preparing for the final leg the qualification tournament for the Rugby World Cup 2015, to be held in Madagascar (June 8 to July 6).

“Standing in their way will be matches v the hosts (June 28), Namibia (July 2) and Kenya (July 6). By finishing in first place at this tournament, the Sables will qualify for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991.

“A second place finish, however, will provide the Sables with a further opportunity to qualify through the repechage qualification process in August this year,” the statement read.

“The Sables continue to prepare this week, with a trial match being played between a Possibles XV and a Probables XV on Friday.

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“The match will be held at Harare Sports Club at 6pm, with the public being encouraged to come down and see the best players in the country battle it out for selection in the 26-member touring party,” ZRU said.