Zimbabwe’s senior men’s rugby team, the Sables, will take on a South Africa ‘A’ side in a high-profile international friendly match in June as part of preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The historic encounter will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 22, and will serve as the curtain-raiser to the blockbuster Test match between the Springboks and the Barbarians.
The fixture was confirmed by Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah, who described the match as a major milestone for Zimbabwean rugby as the Sables continue rebuilding ahead of the next Rugby World Cup cycle.
In addition to the clash against the South African ‘A’ side, the Sables will also compete in the upcoming World Rugby Nations Cup, where they are set to face Tonga, the United States and Canada.
Zimbabwe will host some of its Nations Cup matches in England in a move aimed at tapping into the large Zimbabwean diaspora community and boosting revenue for the sport.
The matches are expected to provide the Sables with a valuable test against top-level opposition as preparations intensify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Rugby Africa boss also paid a courtesy call on President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa before launching the Sables’ Rugby World Cup campaign in Harare.
