Zimbabwe national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union
team representing Zimbabwe
. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation. The team has participated in rugby activities since the late 19th century with international matches being played as early as 1910.
The national team has a long association with touring British Isles
teams, who would regularly play matches against them in their tours of South Africa
. The earliest tour being in 1910 when Zimbabwe was known as Southern Rhodesia
. The side has also played New Zealand
on several occasions, the first being in the late 1920s.
The Zimbabwe
national rugby team have competed at two World Cups, the first in 1987 and the second in 1991. With the Apartheid-era exclusion of South Africa, Zimbabwe were the first African nation to compete in the World Cup, although they are yet to win a finals fixture. The team are also known as the Sables.
arrived in Rhodesia
from the Cape Province
in 1890 it brought with it the country's first rugby players. The oldest clubs in the country, Queens and the Bulawayo Athletic Club, were formed in 1894 in Bulawayo
and the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union was founded one year later in 1895.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php
The first tour by a Rhodesian team to South Africa
took place in 1898, and was composed of players from the five biggest clubs in the two major settlements of Bulawayo and Salisbury (today called Harare)
.
team played a side called Southern Rhodesia on July 30 in 1910
in Bulawayo
, the British saw victory, beating the team 24 points to 11. In 1924
a British side would play another match against Rhodesia, on July 24 in Salisbury
, the British won 16 to 3. On July 14, 1928, Rhodesia played New Zealand
, losing 8 to 44.
During their 1938 tour to South Africa
, the British Lions played two matches against Rhodesia. The first, taking place on July 20 saw the British win 25 to 11, three days later the British won again, 45 to 11. These matches were played in Salisbury and Bulawayo. In late July 1949, two matches were played against New Zealand. Rhodesia won the first 10 to 8, whilst the second game was a draw 3 all.
The 1955 tour of South Africa
by the British Lions, had two fixtures against Rhodesia. The first on July 27 in Kitwe
was won by the Lions, 27 to 14. The Lions won 16 to 12 in Salisbury in the following game.
In 1960, New Zealand again returned to play a match on July 2, Rhodesia losing 14 to 29. The 1962 tour of South Africa
by the British Lions had Rhodesia as the opening fixture on the tour. The opening game of the Lions tour saw the visitors win in Bulawayo
, beating Rhodesia 38 to 9 on May 26. The next tour, in 1964, the Lions won in Salisbury, beating the side 32 to 6. In 1973 Rhodesia played a one-off match against Italy
, winning 42 to 4. In 1970 Rhodesia played New Zealand on July 27, losing 14 to 27. In 1974, the Lions were back at Salisbury
where they defeated Rhodesia 42 to 6. The coming decades of the 1960s and 1970s saw a number of home-grown players considered good enough to be selected for South Africa
.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php Rhodesia’s rugby playing strength reached its peak in the early to mid 1970s seasons when the country possessed 49 clubs, putting together 102 teams.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php
. They played their first game as Zimbabwe
on July 7, 1981 against Kenya
, winning 34 to 24. In 1987 they were invited to participate in the World Cup that year. Zimbabwe lost all three of its pool matches.
During the 1990s the Zimbabwe national team played regularly against Namibia
as well as playing against the Ivory Coast and Morocco
on a few occasions. In 1991 the team was again competing at the World Cup. Placed in pool B amongst sides Ireland
, Scotland
and Japan
, but failed to win any games.
In June 2005, Zimbabwe started on the road to the 2007 World Cup, defeating Senegal
21 to 15 in the Africa round 1B: Pool A. But lost their second match against Côte d'Ivoire
. Zimbabwe had a disappointing 2006 Africa Cup
campaign, finished third in their group with Madagascar and Zambia.
As with many other sports, over the years numerous young Zimbabwean rugby talents have defected to play for other nations, mainly South Africa but also Australia, Scotland and other European countries. This trend has continued with players being attracted abroad by better playing and coaching facilities, as well as being pushed by the ever-declining economic climate in their country of origin.
The exodus includes some big names, the likes of Ray Mordt
, Gary Teichmann
, Brian Mujati
, Adrian Garvey
, Tendai Mtawarira
, Bobby Skinstad
, Tonderai Chavanga and Kennedy Tsimba (all to South Africa), David Pocock
(to Australia), David Curtis
(to Ireland), Scott Gray
, and Paul Johnstone (to Scotland), Andy Marinos
(to Wales) and Edmoore Takaendesa
(Germany), to name but a few. The latest block of exiles sees Takudzwa Ngwenya
(USA) Tendai Mtawarira
and Brian Mujati
being lured to play for the Springboks. Many others are playing at top levels in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and across Europe.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team representing Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation. The team has participated in rugby activities since the late 19th century with international matches being played as early as 1910.
The national team has a long association with touring British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
teams, who would regularly play matches against them in their tours of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The earliest tour being in 1910 when Zimbabwe was known as Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
. The side has also played New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
on several occasions, the first being in the late 1920s.
The Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
national rugby team have competed at two World Cups, the first in 1987 and the second in 1991. With the Apartheid-era exclusion of South Africa, Zimbabwe were the first African nation to compete in the World Cup, although they are yet to win a finals fixture. The team are also known as the Sables.
Early
When the Pioneer ColumnPioneer Column
The Pioneer Column was a force raised by Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company in 1890 and used in his efforts to annex the territory of Mashonaland, later part of Southern Rhodesia ....
arrived in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
from the Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
in 1890 it brought with it the country's first rugby players. The oldest clubs in the country, Queens and the Bulawayo Athletic Club, were formed in 1894 in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
and the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union was founded one year later in 1895.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php
The first tour by a Rhodesian team to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
took place in 1898, and was composed of players from the five biggest clubs in the two major settlements of Bulawayo and Salisbury (today called Harare)
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
.
Rhodesia
A British LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team played a side called Southern Rhodesia on July 30 in 1910
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, the British saw victory, beating the team 24 points to 11. In 1924
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1924 British Isles tour to South Africa was the tenth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950...
a British side would play another match against Rhodesia, on July 24 in Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, the British won 16 to 3. On July 14, 1928, Rhodesia played New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, losing 8 to 44.
During their 1938 tour to South Africa
1938 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1938 British Isles tour to South Africa was the fourteenth tour by a British Isles team and the sixth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950....
, the British Lions played two matches against Rhodesia. The first, taking place on July 20 saw the British win 25 to 11, three days later the British won again, 45 to 11. These matches were played in Salisbury and Bulawayo. In late July 1949, two matches were played against New Zealand. Rhodesia won the first 10 to 8, whilst the second game was a draw 3 all.
The 1955 tour of South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
by the British Lions, had two fixtures against Rhodesia. The first on July 27 in Kitwe
Kitwe
Kitwe is the second largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia. With a population of 547,700 Kitwe is one of the most developed commercial and industrial areas in the nation, alongside Ndola and Lusaka...
was won by the Lions, 27 to 14. The Lions won 16 to 12 in Salisbury in the following game.
In 1960, New Zealand again returned to play a match on July 2, Rhodesia losing 14 to 29. The 1962 tour of South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1962 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. Overall the tourists played twenty-five matches, winning sixteen, losing five and drawing four....
by the British Lions had Rhodesia as the opening fixture on the tour. The opening game of the Lions tour saw the visitors win in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, beating Rhodesia 38 to 9 on May 26. The next tour, in 1964, the Lions won in Salisbury, beating the side 32 to 6. In 1973 Rhodesia played a one-off match against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
, winning 42 to 4. In 1970 Rhodesia played New Zealand on July 27, losing 14 to 27. In 1974, the Lions were back at Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
where they defeated Rhodesia 42 to 6. The coming decades of the 1960s and 1970s saw a number of home-grown players considered good enough to be selected for South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php Rhodesia’s rugby playing strength reached its peak in the early to mid 1970s seasons when the country possessed 49 clubs, putting together 102 teams.http://www.zimrugby.co.zw/abzru.php
Zimbabwe
In 1980 the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union was renamed the Zimbabwe Rugby UnionZimbabwe Rugby Union
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union was founded in 1895 as the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union, and is the governing body of rugby union in Zimbabwe....
. They played their first game as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
on July 7, 1981 against Kenya
Kenya national rugby union team
The Kenya national rugby union team is the Kenyan national team in Rugby. it is controlled by the Kenya Rugby Football Union.The team participates Confederation of African Rugby tournaments, but has never qualified for the Rugby World Cup....
, winning 34 to 24. In 1987 they were invited to participate in the World Cup that year. Zimbabwe lost all three of its pool matches.
During the 1990s the Zimbabwe national team played regularly against Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
as well as playing against the Ivory Coast and Morocco
Morocco national rugby union team
The Morocco national rugby union team are a national sporting side, representing Morocco in rugby union. The team is also known as the Atlas Lions. Morocco is governed by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Rugby. Morocco competes in the Africa Cup annually. The team has won the competition in 2003...
on a few occasions. In 1991 the team was again competing at the World Cup. Placed in pool B amongst sides Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
and Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, but failed to win any games.
In June 2005, Zimbabwe started on the road to the 2007 World Cup, defeating Senegal
Senegal national rugby union team
The Senegal national rugby union team represent Senegal in the sport of rugby union. They are ranked as a tier-three nation by the International Rugby Board . Senegal have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have competed in qualifying tournaments. They also contest the annual Africa...
21 to 15 in the Africa round 1B: Pool A. But lost their second match against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
. Zimbabwe had a disappointing 2006 Africa Cup
2006 Africa Cup
The 2006 Africa Cup was the seventh edition of highest level rugby union tournament in Africa. In this edition, the tournament expanded from nine nations to twelve leading to a change in the format of the tournament which now includes four pools of three teams...
campaign, finished third in their group with Madagascar and Zambia.
Exodus
Zimbabwe has produced many world-class rugby players over the years. Despite limited facilities and coaching, the country has been competitive up to high school grade. However, there is little incentive for most players to play beyond high school level, and consequently the club rugby pool is very diluted. There is little to choose from at national level and this has been the reason for Zimbabwe's rugby downfall.As with many other sports, over the years numerous young Zimbabwean rugby talents have defected to play for other nations, mainly South Africa but also Australia, Scotland and other European countries. This trend has continued with players being attracted abroad by better playing and coaching facilities, as well as being pushed by the ever-declining economic climate in their country of origin.
The exodus includes some big names, the likes of Ray Mordt
Ray Mordt
Raymond Herman "Ray" Mordt is a South African rugby union player. Ray grew up and started playing rugby in Rhodesia . He returned to South Africa and played Wing for the Springboks where he captained the team 3 times from 1980 until 1984...
, Gary Teichmann
Gary Teichmann
Gary Hamilton Teichmann is a retired Rhodesian/Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player. He played number eight and was the captain of the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999...
, Brian Mujati
Brian Mujati
Brian Mujati Brian Mujati Brian Mujati (born (28 September 1984 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a prop....
, Adrian Garvey
Adrian Garvey
Adrian Christopher Garvey was a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player. He played as a prop.Garvey played for Old Miltonians, Coastal Sharks, Natal and Newport Gwent Dragons....
, Tendai Mtawarira
Tendai Mtawarira
Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for the Sharks in the Super Rugby competition. Mtawarira, a prop, is fondly known by friends and fans as "The Beast". Roars of "Beast" are shouted by spectators and fans of the Natal Sharks team whenever Mtawarira...
, Bobby Skinstad
Bobby Skinstad
Robert Brian Skinstad is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player who has represented the national team, the Springboks, 42 times, scoring 55 points . He played in the positions of flanker and number eight...
, Tonderai Chavanga and Kennedy Tsimba (all to South Africa), David Pocock
David Pocock (rugby player)
David Pocock is an Australian rugby union player. He is the current Western Force and Wallabies openside flanker, having assumed the latter position from George Smith.-Early and personal life:...
(to Australia), David Curtis
David Curtis
David Michael Curtis is a former Irish rugby union international. He also played some first-class cricket while at Oxford University....
(to Ireland), Scott Gray
Scott Gray (rugby union)
Scott Donald Gray in Salisbury, Rhodesia is a rugby union footballer for Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership. Gray plays as a flanker....
, and Paul Johnstone (to Scotland), Andy Marinos
Andy Marinos
Andy Marinos is a former former Wales international rugby union player. A centre, he played for Newport Gwent Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs in the Australian Rugby League competition.Andy Also represented the Two South Africans teams of Western Province as well as the Western Stormers He is...
(to Wales) and Edmoore Takaendesa
Edmoore Takaendesa
Edmoore Takaendesa is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He made his debut for Germany on 19 April 2008 against the Ukraine....
(Germany), to name but a few. The latest block of exiles sees Takudzwa Ngwenya
Takudzwa Ngwenya
Takudzwa Ngwenya is a rugby union player who plays on the wing for the United States national rugby union team and French power Biarritz...
(USA) Tendai Mtawarira
Tendai Mtawarira
Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for the Sharks in the Super Rugby competition. Mtawarira, a prop, is fondly known by friends and fans as "The Beast". Roars of "Beast" are shouted by spectators and fans of the Natal Sharks team whenever Mtawarira...
and Brian Mujati
Brian Mujati
Brian Mujati Brian Mujati Brian Mujati (born (28 September 1984 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a prop....
being lured to play for the Springboks. Many others are playing at top levels in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and across Europe.
Record
Their Test match record against all nations, updated to 26 September 2007, is as follows:| Nation | Games | Won | Lost | Drawn | Percentage of wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | |
| 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 77.8% | |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 40% | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.7% | |
| 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 13.6% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.7% | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% | |
| Total | 91 | 35 | 55 | 1 | 38.5% |
Current squad
See also
- Zimbabwe Rugby UnionZimbabwe Rugby UnionThe Zimbabwe Rugby Union was founded in 1895 as the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union, and is the governing body of rugby union in Zimbabwe....
- Zimbabwe at the Rugby World CupZimbabwe at the Rugby World CupZimbabwe have made two Rugby World Cup appearances - in 1987 and 1991.In the 1987 Rugby World Cup, Zimbabwe were invited as the African entrant...
- Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)Zimbabwe national rugby union team (sevens)The Zimbabwe Cheetahs represent Zimbabwe in rugby sevens, a seven a side version of rugby union. Zimbabwe compete in both domestic and international competitions. Zimbabwe compete in IRB Sevens World Series events such as the George and Dubai Sevens...
- Africa CupAfrica CupThe Africa Cup is an annual rugby union tournament involving African nations, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby . The tournament was first held in 2000, and has since been contested on an annual basis...