A delegation of officials from World Rugby and Rugby Africa is scheduled to visit Zimbabwe from August 23 to 27 to assess the nation’s rugby programs and World Cup preparations. The five-day visit will be led by World Rugby representative Brett Robinson and Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah.
According to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU), the visit is intended to review the strategic planning, governance, and development structures currently in place for the sport within the country. The delegation’s agenda includes meetings with the ZRU leadership, government officials, and key stakeholders involved in Zimbabwean rugby.
The primary focus of the assessment is on the preparations of Zimbabwe’s national men’s team, known as the Sables, as they campaign to qualify for the next Rugby World Cup. The Sables last participated in the tournament in 1991. Discussions are expected to cover the resources, high-performance pathways, and support systems required to support the team’s qualification efforts.
Herbert Mensah, who also serves on the World Rugby Executive Board, has emphasized the development of rugby across the African continent since his election as Rugby Africa president. The visit aligns with the continental body’s objective of increasing the competitiveness of its member unions on the global stage.
The itinerary for the visit includes inspections of training facilities and meetings to discuss grassroots development programs aimed at increasing participation in the sport throughout Zimbabwe. The officials will also review the ZRU’s commercial and marketing strategies. The visit concludes on August 27, after which the delegation is expected to provide feedback to the ZRU based on its findings.
