VOLUME 3 November Issue, 2010

THE TACKLER
Official ZRU Newsletter

The Rise of The Women

The second edition of the Zimbabwe
Women’s Sevens Rugby Tournament was an
absolute success on a variety of fronts. The
National Team affectionately known as ‘The
Pangolins’, won the Cup Final beating bitter
rivals Zambia. The perceptions of Women’s
Rugby in Zimbabwe were squashed, the
crowds were entertained, the rugby was of
a high standard, the 2016 Olympic drive and
World Cup qualification process is under
way and the growth of Women’s rugby in
Zimbabwe has clearly doubled in the space
of a year.
The efforts of the Women’s committee, the
coaching staff and the associated sponsors
(Banc ABC, Coca Cola and Lobels) must be
acknowledged and praised for these results.
The players were outstanding and showed
true National Grit in the final to score the
winning try with less than one minute to go.
Zambia were beaten 24-19 by Zimbabwe.
The performances of Marange and Kadye
throughout the tournament was pleasing
and clear to all that there is talent, skill and a
tactical appreciation for the game of rugby
by the Women.
The Development side (Zimbabwe B) lifted
Cup Final Champions: The Pangolins
the Bowl Final while visiting South African
powerhouse Tuks proved too strong for
Botswana as they lifted the Plate Trophy.

The Sables have resumed training with the

Harare based players taking sessions at Harare
Sports Club every Tuesday and Thursday while
Africa Cup Preparations
the Bulawayo based players are under the
watchful eye of National Coach Brendan Dawson.
The groups will meet for final preparations and
the official camp from Wednesday 3rd November
in Harare. The touring squad is likely to leave for
Morocco on Saturday 6th November.
Inside this issue:
Player Profile 2
IRB Africa General Manager Cliffie Booysen
has confirmed that Namibia, Kenya and
Uganda failed to fulfill their respective
fixtures and as a result, Cameroon will take
the third spot at the Finals. Best runners-up,
Madagascar, will fill the final slot. This means
that Zimbabwe will be ranked 2nd at the
tournament and will once again face off in the
semis against the 3rd ranked team,
Madagascar. Cameroon, who qualified by
default, will be pitted against tournament
hosts Morocco.
The Sables stand a good chance of playing in
the final and have every intention of winning
the tournament outright.
The recent National Rugby League Final
“ Zimbabwe aim to
between Harare Sports Club and District win outright”
Dragons proved that the local players have
the physicality and heart to take to Morocco.

Club Champions 2
To the woefully uninformed, ‘Movember’ is a
movement that started in Australia over 6 years ago
(where else in the world, with the possible
It’s “Movember”
Junior World Trophy 2
exception of Germany, would such a thing start?).
The idea is to bring the moustache back during the
In rugby circles around the world, players in
Recognising The Cheetahs 3 month of November for a worthy cause. Movember
particular show their support by growing intricate
is a charity ‘event’ that lasts for the month with the
designs of facial hair. Handle bars, Monte Christo’s,
aim of raising awareness about male prostate
The Walrus, Bards, Pork Chops and Goatees are
Coaches Corner 3 cancer and raising money for research into cancer.
just some of their preferred choices.
Ah, the moustache! That eternal badge of manhood
In the European Leagues it seemed that the
The ZRRS 4 and testosterone! It immediately conjures images of
players had all lost a bet. Wrong – they were
large men devouring roasted buffalo flesh, of hairy
making a statement for charity – with moustaches.
armpits, of Bulls versus Sharks rugby, of dirty Toyota
How cool is that?
Rugby World Cup 1991 4 Hilux bakkies, of Isandlwana, of frothing beers, guns
and war and...Pieter de Villiers. Join in and experience the fun. If you would like to
be a part of this global support group be sure to
run it by your wife or boss first!
 Official ZRU Newsletter
Player Profile - Wes Mbanje
Age: 28
School: Milton High School
Hometown: Bulawayo
Club Team: Old Miltonians
Weight: 82kg
Height: 179cm
Teams Represented: Lions 7’s, Valke Currie
Cup, Zim 7’s, Zim XV’s
Position 7’s: Hooker / Wing
Position XV’s: Outside Centre / Wing
Favorite Food: Blueberry ice-cream
cheesecake
Favourite Holiday destination: Paris (soon)
Favourite Venue: The Sevens Stadium
(Dubai)
The 2010 National Rugby League was a
challenge for every club that took part. It was
long, tough, bruising and taxing on the body.
But one club stood tall and shouldered the
responsibilities by challenging all that took to
the field against them. The District Dragons
proved to be worthy champions, and with a one
match loss season they fully deserved the
accolades.
Head Coach Brighton Chivandire bought to the
club in 2010 an approach of winning by playing
the game effectively and with accuracy. A
simple formula that the players adopted and
executed with aplomb.
There were undoubtedly many challenges for
the club during the extended season but the
team was lead by an extraordinary figure in
Jacques Leitao. A player who lead from the
front, stoking the furnace of attack with brutish
Junior World Trophy 2011
Captain Marco Mama will lead the
2011 Team
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You played for Milton High School in
Bulawayo. Was rugby your passion then? I
was more into athletics and basketball until
Brendan Dawson, who was still a player
back then, invited me to play for Old
Miltonians while I was still at school.
Norman Mukondiwa and I joined the Club
at a young age.
Where are you living now? If I’m not at
home in Bulawayo then I’m playing rugby
in South Africa.
Will you come back to Zimbabwe to give
back to the game? I’m still giving back by
playing for my country and hanging up my
boots scares me. I haven’t thought about
what happens next after I’ve finished
playing, but I will help where I can.
You’ve scored many tries on the IRB
Sevens World Series. Which one stands
Club Champs 2010
Captain Jacques Leitao and Scott Jones enjoying the spoils
Having recently qualified for the Junior
World Trophy 2011 to be held in the USA,
the Junior Sables management and
coaching staff are eagerly planning for
success. A strategic path has been
mapped out to ensure that no stone is
left unturned in Zimbabwe’s quest for
dominance and recognition at the age
group show piece.
Coach Brighton Chivandire has
confirmed that regular training camps,
testing and evaluations of the players
will be carried out over a period of 5
out? It’s hard to pick one as watching them You’ve worked with many coaches, which
on video I realize the magnitude of playing ones stand out for you? Liam Middleton is
at such a high level (IRB Sevens Series), passionate about what he does and at
and how much I’ve contributed towards times I glance at him before we run on and
the teams success. notice his eagerness and determination. I
get the feeling he might put on a pair of
How are your personal preparations
boots and join us. As a coach he’s got fresh
going for the Africa Cup and The IRB
ideas, he’s prepared and challenges us as
World Series? Knowing that I could make
players. He has a rareness in his coaching
both teams to tour is the foundation for
abilities and I see some of those qualities
my preparation. Knowing that they are just
in Gilbert Nyamutsamba.
around the corner motivates me more and
keeps my prayers burning.
defence and wise on field decisions. The senior members of
the team displayed commitment and energy that fused the
playing style of the club and many of the newer faces
followed and learned with unbounded enthusiasm.
The final itself against a worthy adversary, Harare Sports Club
had every ingredient a final needs. Tries, drop goals, big hits,
rain, red cards and of course...extra time! A 100 minute feast
of local rugger was showcased to the public, and the
spectators refused to be out done by a temperamental
Mother Nature.
The matched unearthed a young talent in Justin Coles as he
bagged a brace of tries to put The Dragons on the front foot.
If 2010 ended this way...look forward to 2011...it’s going to be
a bumper season!
months so as to stringently select the Junior World Trophy in Moscow this past
best possible touring group. For many of May. The experience they gained will be
the up and coming national players, this invaluable to the teams success.
will be their first taste of the professional
A big emphasis on this teams preparation
approach to playing rugby.
will be their strength and conditioning,
Players like captain Marco Mama, Justin and their willingness to compete with a
Coles, Corey Van Rensburg and Charles professional mindset.
Jiji will all play massive roles as leaders
and players alike. The challenge for these players is to
make the grade to playing for the
Many of the current group experienced Zimbabwe National Teams.
the highs and lows of preparation and
participation for the 2010 edition of the Watch this space.
 VOLUME 3

Recognising The Cheetahs

"The unique, desert atmosphere of Dubai is a superb

venue to kick off the World Series and last year’s event
was another fantastic advertisement for Sevens," said the
IRB’s Series Tournament Director, Beth Coalter.

“We expect even better this year and also look forward to
kicking off the World Series’ new title sponsorship with
HSBC in the best possible style.”

“We fully expect this, the 12th edition of the World Series,
to be the biggest and the best ever.”
“ This will be
A lot to look forward to for the ‘Sevens Faithful’ as the biggest and
Zimbabwe will square off against perennial favourites New
Zealand, temperamental Argentina and the sleeping giant,
best ever”
USA in Pool B. No match is ever easy at this level and The
Cheetahs are currently hard at work preparing for what
will be nothing short of fireworks and rugby grandeur on
the biggest Sevens stage. With the Cheetahs brand now being considered global,
the IRB has graced it on the official tournament poster

Coaches Corner Zimbabwe’s Wes Mbane has too much pace for the Northern Region
cover defence

This month we speak with Pangolins Coach ‘Sykes’ growth as it gives us the much needed game time against
Sibanda: some strong opposition. Also it is generating a lot of interest
amongst the school girls and the public as they will be able to
How long have you been involved in women’s rugby?
see the National Women’s Sevens team in action at home.
I’ve been involved since 2006.
What development programs are in place to grow the
What does the Olympic decision mean to Zimbabwe player base? At the moment we have the Women’s National
Women’s Rugby? The decision came at the right time League and the Girls High Schools league in Harare. We want
for us, it means the game will grow and develop. to start a High schools league in Bulawayo as well. Then the
next step would be the Primary Schools as players for the
How has the team progressed over this season? The 2016 Olympics will come from the current High Schools
team has progressed very well, we did not play to our League. I think we can look forward to qualifying for the
Olympics as the players will have been introduced to rugby at
full potential at the Castle Sevens in Zambia, we were
an earlier stage, unlike what has been happening in some
the better team and we should have won the Cup. At cases where players were starting rugby at club level. We
the Middleburg Sevens in South Africa there was a big also want to set up a Women’s Sevens Academy.
improvement as we won the Plate Final, but there’s
National Women’s Sevens Team: Winners of the Plate Final
still a lot of work that needs be done before our A message for the supporters: Please come and support us.
Middleburg Sevens 2010
Tournament at the end of October. We will Fly our Flag high!

How important to the teams growth is hosting our

own tournament? It is very important to the teams

Fan Focus

If you enjoy the game of rugby in Zimbabwe be it at schools, clubs or national level then consider
yourself a Fan. The Zimbabwe Rugby Community is a passionate one and the players that take to
the field every weekend appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

Zimbabwe Rugby hopes to showcase this talent on a regular basis and trusts that you The Fan
enjoy the whole experience. Be sure to follow this column each week as we seek to grow the
game and it’s following throughout Zimbabwe.

Each month will see our ‘Caption Photograph’ winner walk away with a prize. Be sure to be seen
CAPTION WINNER at the games!

If this is you please contact the ZRU offices: Grant rugby2@mweb.co.zw Congratulations to the October winner, Hapie Nyatanga.

You will need to provide your name and venue of the match at which you were This months winner receives a limited edition ‘Zimbabwe Rugby Centenary 1895-1995’ book by
supporting in order to collect your prize. Jonty Winch.

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 THE TACKLER

The ZRRS
The Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Society was initiated way
back in 1918 just after the 1st World War (then called the
Rhodesia Rugby Referees Society). The 1 st Chairman was a
Colonel Webb, who had been a referee in England. Webb
met with a number of keen rugby men and they established a
Constitution for the Referee Society. At that time rugby was
only played in Salisbury and Bulawayo, so the two branches
met twice a month in each city to forward plan.
In 1970 the RRRS established other “branches” in Umtali and
in Gwelo. In Harare the meetings were now held every week,
a tradition which continues to this day. It was also agreed in
1970 that the official “uniform” for referees would be the
yellow jersey and black shorts for ALL branches. It was only
recently in the early 1990’s that the referees changed the
shorts to green which we see today.
The ZRRS has been actively making progress in the School
environment to identify and develop schoolboy referees.
These guys are the future of the game and it is vital that this
recruitment and development continues.
Some schools have been encouraged to have Referee
“Clubs” and the boys can attend as part of their
extra-curricular activities. Courses in Refereeing and Touch
Judging are held, examinations/tests written and boys are
certificated if they do well. Boys are also encouraged to start
“shadow” refereeing with an experienced senior referee.
Gradually the senior referee will take less part in the matches
until such time as the Schoolboy can handle the fixture
himself. Schools actively involved in this include St. Johns,
Peterhouse, St. Georges and Prince Edward.
There is a good relationship between the aforementioned
schools and the ZRRS which results in the utilisation of schools
matches for training purposes. The efforts of senior referees
who willingly give their time for this development, namely
Mudiwa Mundawarara, Paul Comberbach, Pete Kaulback, Rory
McWade, and Marty Wiles, who are all seasoned “Shadow
Developers”, is massively important to the ZRRS development
plan.
All referees are frequently assessed and coached. The best
times for this are at festivals such as Cottco for example. It’s
an ideal opportunity to have the referees watched by both
local and outside referee coaches.
In addition to this, referees are encouraged to attend weekly
meetings held every Monday at Prince Edward School.
(Bulawayo has their own meetings run by the effervescent and
hard working Drew Roberts). Part of their development
involves active law discussion, law examinations twice a year
and fitness tests twice a year.
The consistent efforts of those who willingly watch and help
with referee coaching and assessment is also key to Referee
growth and Rick Kershaw, Mike Whiley, Eric Caldercourt, Dave
Mathews and Rob Jarvis are just a few of the “elderly
statesmen” who sacrifice their Saturdays to assist.
And in the schoolboy ranks, there has been considerable
improvement from all of the following : Des McDonnell, Chad
Sinclair, Geoff Ames, Rob Prior, and Andrew Perlman.
The ZRRS would like to believe that the following referees
have made good progress this year : Simba Dangah, Gabriel
Masenda, Sykes Sibanda and Tinashe Kamwenje. A number of
them have done duty outside the country and their reports
have been very satisfactory.
In addition there are several referees who are still
relativenovices but who have good potential, such as
Scott McDonnell, Mark Phillips, and Mathias Bvepfepfe.
And in the schoolboy ranks, there has been considerable
improvement from all of the following : Des McDonnell,
Chad Sinclair, Geoff Ames, Rob Prior, and Andrew
Perlman. Given hard work and the correct exposure,
several of the above referees could reach a very high
level.
An integral part of the game is the Assistant Referee.
Not everyone can be a referee and it is great that the
ZRRS has a good team of guys who run the flag every
weekend. These guys too, must attend weekly
meetings, sit laws examinations, pass fitness tests, and
then be assessed.
The ZRRS has invitations to send referees and referee
coaches to Ireland and England in 2011. This will be for a
period of 12 days during which the referee will be given 4
matches and will be assessed externally. In order for this
to happen the ZRRS must fund raise and/or get help
from the ZRU. It would be a pity to lose out on this
opportunity due to the lack of funds. In addition to this
the ZRRS would like to continue and expand the
schoolboy recruitment exercise, and encourage/recruit
from the ex-player base. Regional exchanges are
essential that we continue to use regional tournaments
for our development. Exchanges with South Africa,
Zambia, Namibia and Kenya will be encouraged.
For the time being though, we need to heed Jonathon
Kaplans words : What makes a great referee ? Flair … To
add to the game. Judgement … To make the correct and
consistent calls. Nerve … To be resolute and firm under
pressure. Vision … To set realistic goals and to work
hard to attain them.

Rugby World Cup 1991

The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the last time our National XV’s side took part in this global
showpiece. Players like the late Richard Tsimba became household names in Zimbabwe as a
result of their efforts. The current National Team still has the ambition of creating the platform
to once again play at the highest level in tournaments to come.

Brenton Catterall, Alex Nicholls and Andy Ferreira assist with rugby at school level in Zimbabwe
while Brendan Dawson is currently the National XV’s Head Coach. Adrian Garvey through his
Garvz Academy is also contributing to the growth of the game at junior levels in his home
country. Coach Buchanan’s son, Justin, has followed in his Father’s footsteps and is himself
currently a National player.

It’s pleasing to see that legends of the game in Zimbabwe still have the heart for and support
of Zimbabwe Rugby.

This online publication is a great way for you and your company to be seen. With thousands of readers country
Advertise in The Tackler wide and a regional come global viewership in the hundreds we expect our Newsletter to reach far and wide.
Any laptop, home PC and business with internet connection can have access to our Newsletter.

The Tackler will be released online via e-mail, Facebook and the website every month with news, views and
reviews of Zimbabwe Rugby.

Should you wish to place an advert and sponsor a page or article please contact:
ONLINE STATS:
Grant : rugby2@mweb.co.zw
Website hits per week: 1750 www.facebook.com/zim7s
Countries reached: USA / Japan / China /
www.zimbabwerugby.com
Brazil / UK / Ireland / Australia / Uganda /
Namibia / Germany / Russia / UAE / Aus
(all 6 continents reached) Useful links:

Facebook members: 1 485 www.zimbabwesport24-7.com

Stats current as of 01/11/10 www.irb.com www.rugby365.com

www.scrum.com

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