Young Sables head coach, Brighton Chivandire, who was also honoured with the coach of the year award ahead of the national rugby sevens coach, Liam Middleton and Lawn Bowls Dennis Streak has high hopes that his troops will impress at the international stage to gain promotion into Division A, next year. The boys have what it takes; they are talented and very hard working. We have maintained the bulk of the players from the qualifiers and with more of hard work it will be possible, he said. Zimbabwe will participate in the Division B of the tournament alongside countries as Italy , the hosts Russia, defending champions Romania , other regional qualifiers Papua New Guinea (Oceania), 2008 champions Uruguay (South America), Japan (Asia) and Canada (North America) in Moscow, from May 18-30.
The IRB global Junior showdown World Rugby Trophy combines with its sister tournament, the IRB Junior World Championship, to provide talented young players with the exposure of playing more competitive international tournaments for the much needed experience as well as giving emerging Unions with major tournament hosting experience. The 2009 Trophy in Kenya, in which Zimbabwe won to qualify for the World Cup, provided a significant boost to the game in the African country through a dedicated legacy programme that featured a schools Tag Rugby initiative that is expected to reach out to over 100,000 children by 2012.
Despite being a lower level to the much competitive Division A competition to be held next June, in Argentina, the Young Sables participation in the Moscow showpiece will present a good platform for international exposure. The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2010 promises to be the most competitive to date. The global qualification process highlighted the increased levels of competition across each Region and with champions Romania, Japan , Italy and of course hosts Russia participating, it will be a hugely exciting tournament,” said IRB Tournaments Manager Philippe Bourdarias. The eight team Division A edition of the IRB Junior World Trophy will see Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga and Wales battling-it-out for the prestigious championship title.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News