eBusiness Weekly
By Jeffrey Murimbechi and Chipo Sabeta
The Zimbabwe national rugby league is back!
And chatter in local rugby circles has begun and Business Weekly Sport can confirm that the Zimbabwe Sables eight man Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, is moving from Old Hararians Rugby Club to arch-enemies and defending champions of the National Rugby League — Harare Sports Club.
Tapfuma, who is also a medical doctor, brings his younger brother Tichafa, as one of the contenders of the Red Lions jersey in the 2019 season.
Normally a transfer of this nature between any of the three big wigs Sportivo as Harare Sports Club are affectionately known, Old Hararians “Marasta” and the Old Georgians will attract huge resentment as sentiments about loyalty are a central pillar in local club culture and rivalry.
However, Tapfuma clears the air as this marks his return to his intended “home”.
“When I came back from university I bumped into Denford Mutamangira, Shingie Mpofu and Kudakwashe Chisepo and they told me they played club rugby. I thought they were at OH and that is how I ended up there. So this year I am back with my club [Sportivo] and I am excited about that,” he said.
The big eight man caught the eye of Sables coach Peter De Villiers and earned valuable game minutes in the 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup, this year has already started pre-season training with Sportivo.
The Zimbabwe’s national rugby league, which was prematurely abandoned in 2014 due to financial constraints, returns this year and will see six teams battling it out throughout the season enhancing competition among clubs and also produce quality players for national teams.
The return of the national clubs competition is considered a huge step towards reviving the country’s national rugby league after signing sponsorship deals with three corporate sponsors out of the targeted six.
ZRU has made changes that will intensify the local game as an important feeder system into the national teams.
“I can confirm that the first leg of the national league will feature six teams and we begin on March 16. We will be part of the Super Sport Rugby challenge and the selection process for the squad representing Zimbabwe will be very important, so expect some exciting rugby as players raise their hands to make that side,” said Zimbabwe Rugby Union President and former Sables winger, Aaron Jani.
The league will take a short break as the select side will play in the Super Sport Rugby challenge where nemesis-cum-Zimbabwe’s Achilles heel, Namibia, take part in South Africa’s second tier domestic competition.
A national squad for the Gold Cup will go on tour, but in the meantime incumbent select side coach Daniel Hondo will be looking for only the best players locally and internationally for consideration in both international competitions.
The second leg of the local competition will have a semi-final and national final.
Already the Harare Rugby League Uner-21 Championship kicked off in January and both coaches and players are on the lookout for fresh budding players worthy of national league and national team caps.
Following the collapse of the national rugby league in 2014, club rugby had been decentralised into two regions – the Northern and the Southern.
Harare Sports Club are defending champions of the Northern region rugby league, ending Old Georgians’ dominance in the region.
Old Georgians have been the most successful team in the Northern region, winning the league championship title in 2016 and 2017.
Bulawayo-based rugby outfit, Matabeleland Warriors, won the 2018 Southern region league.
