Zimbabwe’s Sables rev up for SA A clash in Gqeberha

To ensure they are battle-ready to take on a powerful SA A team in Gqeberha on June 20, the Zimbabwe Sables have named a squad of 26 players for training camps to be held in conjunction with the Blue Bulls and Junior Boks in May and June.

The SA A clash will be a curtain-raiser (kickoff 12.00) for the main game between the Springboks and Barbarians, which is expected to attract a capacity 46,000 crowd to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 3pm).

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to name his SA A squad to face the Zimbabweans and a group to face the BaaBaas within the next two weeks.

“We’re very excited to see the rest of our wider squad in action in a proper match when the SA A team take on the Sables from Zimbabwe,” Erasmus said.

“They have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and I’m sure it will be a great match.”

The SA A clash is an important building block for Zimbabwe ahead of their participation in the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

The first Zimbabwe training camp with the Bulls is set for May 27-30 and Sables coach Piet Benade has already announced his travelling squad, which includes many new additions from the team’s last outing against Zambia.

Among them are the SA-based contingent of Godfrey Muzanargwo (Valke), Munashe Mhere (Leopards), Kyle Theron (College Rovers), Munashe Dukuswa (University of Pretoria) and winger Edward Siguake (Emeris).

They are also joined by the Spain-based duo of Bornwell Gwinji (Gernika Rugby Taldea) and Simba Mandioma (CP Les Abelles) while Kelvin Kanungo (Bahrain Rugby Club) and Bryan Chiang (Brighton Park) also made the list.

On completion of the Blue Bulls camp, the team move to Stellenbosch for the second camp alongside the Junior Boks from June 8-13.

More significant building blocks have been put in place to ensure the Springboks are ready to hit the ground running in their opening match of the season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20, coach Rassie Erasmus said. Last week’s alignment camp in Cape Town included a series of boardroom sessions presented by the coaches in the build-up to the Boks’ opening game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 3pm). Though some of the players at the alignment camp may not make the Bok side to face the BaaBaas, they will be strong candidates for inclusion in an SA A team to face the Zimbabwe Sables in a curtain-raiser (kickoff 12:00). “Every year after an alignment camp, we say we are happy with where we are currently, but I guess it will only be clear when we start playing,” Erasmus said. “What we’ve tried to introduce with the alignment camps was to bring in young players who haven’t been part of our system and others who have only been to one or two camps, so in that sense, the players are starting to feel more comfortable. “They also got the opportunity to know the coaches and a little more about the structures. “There were also injured players who were not in attendance and some guys who attended virtually, so there were different goals, but we believe most of them were achieved. “That said, it’s easy to talk now. Obviously, it has to translate onto the field.” Erasmus said more than 60 players in the two alignment camps spread the net to ensure that everyone received a fair start. “Then there are the on-field aspects, where some guys may still be playing, and others will be flying in from abroad. In general, however, I think we are in a good place as a group, and everyone knows what we expect of each other when we start training.” Erasmus named a purpose- and goal-driven squad for the team’s second in-person alignment camp, with former Hudson Park schoolboy Sibabalwe Mahashe and the highly rated Zekhethelo Siyaya invited to their first camp. Embrose Papier, Francke Horn, Andre-Hugo Venter and Henco van Wyk, who have all attended alignment camps in the past, have also been included in the group. With several experienced national players who have been in the set-up for several seasons sidelined due to injury, Erasmus said the purpose of this camp had been to expose players to the team’s structures and systems with an eye on the next two seasons and beyond. Attendees at the camp were 10 uncapped players in Paul de Villiers, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horn, Mahashe, Riley Norton, Haashim Pead, Siyaya, Emmanuel Tshituka, Van Wyk and Jaco Williams, six of whom were invited to the first alignment camp in March. Erasmus will name his training squad for next month’s camp in the next two weeks, when the Boks will begin their on-field preparations for the season-opening double-header between the Springboks and Barbarians and the SA A team against Zimbabwe. This will be followed by three back-to-back Test matches against England in Johannesburg (July 4), Scotland in Pretoria (July 11), and Wales in Durban (July 18) as part of the Nations Championship and a match against Argentina in Buenos Aires (August 8) before four Tests against the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in August and September. The Boks will then travel to Australia to face the Wallabies in Perth (September 27) before the second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe, with matches against Italy (November 7), France (November 13) and Ireland (November 21), before the Finals Weekend in London (November 27 to 29). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

This will then lead into their scheduled match against SA A side in Gqeberha.

The Sables are then expected to leave for the US on June 28, ahead of their Nations Cup opener against Tonga on July 4.

It has been a productive break for the Sables after their back-to-back wins over Zambia, with coach Benade and his squad back in full training.

Rugby shone at Zimbabwe’s Annual National Sports Awards, where the Sables, referee Precious Pazani and Benade won accolades.

The Sables were crowned the team of the year, with Pazani and Benade scooping the official and coach awards.

For Sables assistant coach Ricky Chirengende, the awards are a huge pat on the back after a hugely successful 2025 for the game.

If the Barbarians live up to their famous creed of prioritising flair over dull defensive tactics, a dazzling feast of running rugby will be served up when they face the Springboks in Gqeberha on June 20. Fans are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the composite BaaBaas squad, which is expected to feature many of the world’s best players at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Players wearing the iconic black and white hooped Barbarians jersey have scored some of the most exciting tries in rugby’s history. Legendary scrumhalf Gareth Edwards scored what many regard as rugby’s greatest try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park in 1973. It is referred to simply as “that try” and is etched in memories of fans because of its sheer brilliance. The move started with a deep kick from a New Zealand player, and the ball dropped towards Phil Bennett near to his goal line. Livewire Bennett sidestepped and evaded three tackles, in turn passing the ball to JPR Williams. The ball then passed through the hands of John Pullin, John Dawes, Tommy David and Derek Quinnell before Edwards, slipping between two teammates and seemingly intercepting the last pass, finished with a diving try in the lefthand corner. Fixtures involving the Barbarians are rare and highly anticipated worldwide, and they bring together some of the most exciting names in global rugby for a once-off match. Their games are known for capturing the imagination of fans across generations, combining skill with an unstructured, expressive style of play that is seldom seen in the modern game. What makes the Barbarians particularly compelling is the manner in which their squad is assembled. Players are invited from across the rugby world based on form, reputation and flair, often representing a mix of countries, cultures and playing styles. Selection is typically finalised close to matchday, adding an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation as fans eagerly await the final line-up and the magic it might produce on the field. Rugby fever is rising in Gqeberha, with the Springboks expected to come flying out of the starting blocks against former All Blacks’ coach Scott Robertson’s Barbarians team. An SA A team will take on the Zimbabwe Sables in a curtain-raiser to the Barbarians clash. The Barbarians were formed in 1890, when William Percy Carpmael, a player for both Blackheath and Cambridge University, realised his dream of spreading good fellowship among all rugby players and harnessing the game’s virtues of flair, courage, spirit and passion. In 1952 the Barbarians played their inaugural fixture against the Springboks at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales, which South Africa went on to win 17-3. Nine years later, the Barbarians claimed their first victory against the Boks, winning 6-0 at the same venue. The next two meetings followed a similar pattern, with the Boks winning 21-12 at Twickenham in 1970, before the Barbarians pulled one back in 1994, winning 23-15 at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. In 2000, the Boks rounded off a largely successful tour of Argentina and Europe with a 41-31 victory over the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium. Although nobody knew it at the time, that result in Cardiff would mark the Boks’ last win against the black and white hoops for a quarter of a century. After winning the 2007 World Cup in France, a much-changed Bok side lost 22-5 to the Barbarians at Twickenham. The next contest in 2010 was closer, although the Barbarians still managed to win 26-20 in London. The next clash was staged at Wembley Stadium in London, with Allister Coetzee in charge of the Boks and former Crusaders and Australia coach Robbie Deans at the helm of the Barbarians. The Barbarians led 17-12 at halftime before SA hit back in the second half with three tries. Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s touchdown in the 77th minute ensured that the Boks came away from Wembley with a 31-31 draw. In 2025 the Boks began their season with a dominant 54-7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus says there could not be a better place than rugby-mad Gqeberha to stage the Springboks’ opening match of the season. Erasmus says he is itching for the season to start and is expecting a capacity 46,000 crowd to watch the opener at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. - Additional reporting SA Rugby Win tickets The Herald, in partnership with SA Rugby, is giving away 20 double tickets to see the Springboks face off against the Barbarians in the YesPlay Cup at Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 20 2026. Two lucky readers also stand a chance to win branded rugby merchandise. For entry details, keep an eye on The Herald’s Facebook account. Competition terms and conditions: The competition closes on Thursday June 4 2026 at 12pm. Winners will be randomly selected via lucky draw. Only entrants who correctly answer the competition question will be eligible for the draw. Winners will be contacted via private inbox message on Facebook on Friday June 5. Prizes are not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. By entering, participants agree to the competition terms and conditions. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook.

“I think it’s very rewarding when you get recognised for your work,” Chirengende said.

“This is, obviously, off the back of a very successful 2024 and 2025. The last two years have been good for us, and we really appreciate the recognition.

“We just had a couple of tough games against the Zambians, but now we are heading into an even tougher period during the next couple of months.

A revved-up Barbarians outfit will be on the warpath and hunting for the prized scalp of the all-conquering Springboks when the sides collide at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on June 20, joint coach Felipe Contepomi says. Any perceptions that the international season opener might be a low-key affair were kicked into touch when Contepomi said the Baabaas wanted to erase memories of the 2025 clash between the teams when the Boks ran out runaway 54-7 winners in Cape Town. Contepomi, who is a joint coach alongside Scott Robertson, Patrice Collazo and Kenny Lynn, said the Baabaas wanted to be much more competitive in Gqeberha than had been the case in Cape Town (kickoff 3pm). “Hopefully it’s not the same as it was in Cape Town in 2026,” he told the Behind the Ruck podcast. “We can turn that story around and bring another story. “To hear that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is taking it as seriously as a Test match is the best way for us to prepare. Facing South Africa is a big, big challenge, and I’m really looking forward to it. “Being part of the Barbarians is a great honour. But when they showed me the calendar and said we were playing against the world champions, it was an even bigger honour. “I love going to South Africa. The way South African people live rugby is unbelievable.” The former Argentina flyhalf, who played for the Barbarians during his career, said his team would be facing a huge challenge in Gqeberha. “The Springboks are the world champions and at the moment they are the best team in the world. If you ask 100 people, 99 will probably say they are. And when you play against the best, obviously you want to beat them. “I think being part of the Barbarians is a great honour. And I’ve been lucky enough to play in two tours with the Baabaas. And now being asked to coach, it’s a big honour — and I have lots of friends in South Africa. “Being able to be part of the Baabaas in South Africa will be a great experience, for sure. “I think two things when the name of the Barbarians comes up. First of all, because you have to be invited to be part of that club, it’s a great honour to be invited and to be part of it. For me, the most important thing that rugby gives you is friendship, knowing people, knowing different cultures. And that’s exactly what you get in a Barbarians team “And the second one, I think they still, in such a professional era, keep a very amateur spirit and sometimes even a way of rolling. So for me, an older guy who lived the last part of the amateur era with a mix of professionalism, it’s a great way of going back to rugby roots. “And look, for me, the most important thing that rugby gives you is friendship, knowing people, knowing different cultures. And that’s exactly what you get in a Barbarians team. People from everywhere in the world sharing their experiences, having a good time and just playing for each other. “So playing against the best is all that you want, and when you go and play against the best, obviously, you want to beat them. “I have lots of time for Rassie Erasmus because he’s a great coach. He knows the Boks have a target on their back because they are the best at the moment. So it’s a great honour to be able to go and play against them, and I’m looking forward to it.” A SA A team will take on the Zimbabwe Sables in a curtain-raiser to the Barbarians clash. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“We are heading to the Blue Bulls, at the end of the month, then camping in Stellenbosch, which is going to obviously lead us to the big game against South Africa A,” Chirengende said.

“This will probably be the biggest game that any Zimbabwean team has played in recent years,” he said.

The Sables camp have set their sights on the match against SA A, and they are also targeting a good run at the Nations Cup.

The World Rugby Nations Cup sees the 12 unions that qualified for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 competing in a structured environment designed to accelerate competitiveness.

Zimbabwe squad:

Forwards: Jeff Makoni, Bryan Chaing, Bornwell Gwinji, Vuyani Dlomo, Tadiwanashe Gwashu, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Zvikomborero Chimoto, Simbarashe Mandioma, Munashe Mhere, Polite Phiri, Aiden Burnett, Liam Larkin, Kelvin Kanenungo and Godwin Mangenje.

Backs: Hilton Mudariki, Brendan Mason, Kudzai Mashawi, Darrel Makwasha, Trevor Gurwe, Tatenda Kamubvumbi, Godfrey Magaramombe, Kyle Theron, Munashe Dukuswa, Keagan Jourbert, Tapiwa Mafura and Edward Sigauke.

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