Sables Camp Opens as Piet Benade Faces Tough Selection Decisions Ahead of Rugby Africa Cup

The Zimbabwe senior rugby team, the Zimbabwe Sables, has begun a crucial training camp in South Africa as preparations intensify for the upcoming Rugby Africa Cup, with head coach Piet Benade facing the difficult task of trimming an increasingly competitive squad.

The Sables are spending a week training with the Blue Bulls, where coaches will closely assess players competing for places in the final squad ahead of one of Zimbabwe's most important rugby assignments in recent years. The camp, which runs until Friday, features a blend of locally based players and foreign-based stars whose club commitments ended earlier than others, giving the technical team a valuable opportunity to evaluate talent ahead of selection.

The South African camp has also provided an opportunity for several young and uncapped players to experience life in the national team setup as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union continues efforts to build squad depth and strengthen the future of Zimbabwean rugby. Zimbabwe Rugby Union interim management committee general manager Takunda Chifokoyo acknowledged that securing competitive international fixtures had been challenging but said the camps would play a vital role in preparing the team.

“It was always going to be tough for us to secure many games for the team, coming out of the stage that we were at as a union,” said Chifokoyo.

To compensate for the lack of fixtures, Zimbabwe has organised two high-performance camps in South Africa. After completing the Blue Bulls programme, the Sables will travel to Stellenbosch for a second training camp with the South Africa Under-20 Rugby Team from 8 to 13 June.

Chifokoyo admitted that the growing pool of talented players available to Benade has created a welcome but challenging selection dilemma.

“With the Blue Bulls camp, I am really excited about the players we will get to see because coach Piet Benade has already announced his squad for the trip.

“I would really hate to be part of the technical team solely based on the amount of talent at coach Benade’s disposal.

“I am sure he would want to pick 50 or 60 players to take to the Nations Cup, but that won’t be possible. However, I am sure he has already started looking at trimming down the squad.”

The comments reflect the growing competitiveness within Zimbabwe rugby as more local and overseas-based players push for national team selection.

Several foreign-based stars have already linked up with the squad, including:

• David Hayes

• Tapiwa Mafura

• Michael Kumbirai

• Godfrey Muzanargwo

• Munashe Mhere

• Kyle Theron

• Munashe Dukuswa

• Edward Sigauke

Spain-based duo Bornwell Gwinji and Simba Mandioma are also part of the travelling group.

More players are expected to join in the coming weeks as club commitments conclude. Experienced campaigners Farai Mudariki and Matthew McNab are scheduled to link up with the squad next month.

For Benade and his coaching staff, the current camps are about more than fitness and tactical preparation. The sessions will help identify players capable of coping with the physical demands and pressure of international competition as Zimbabwe seeks to assemble its strongest squad for the Rugby Africa Cup. The tournament is expected to be a key test of the Sables' progress and could play a significant role in shaping Zimbabwe's ambitions on the continental and global rugby stage.

Zimbabwe Sables training camp