HARARE - The Zimbabwe Under-19 rugby team’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Portugal were shattered after a 27-20 defeat to Kenya yesterday in Namibia.
This is now the third year in row that the Young Sables have failed to qualify for the world rugby showpiece for junior national teams.
This will be a big concern for the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and the magnitude of locals who follow the sport.
This failure by the Young Sables is a pointer that that the future of Zimbabwean rugby is not rosy and it is a concern that needs urgent attention.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe started the match slow and failed to get the grip of the ball in the first stanza conceding four tries.
The youngsters, who are coached by Nsikelelo Sibanda, were only able to respond with a solitary try by flank Sheppard Mhembere as they went to breather trailing 22-5.
In the second period, the Young Sables emerged with more purpose as they were able to outscore their opponents with two tries and a penalty.
Kenya were only able to score a single unconverted try in the second half.
The spirited second half performance by the Young Sables was not enough to overhaul the Kenyan’s lead.