World Rugby and Rugby Africa Leaders Rally Zimbabwe Rugby Stakeholders Behind a Shared Vision for the Future
World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson, Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah and World Rugby Chief of International Federation David Carrigy joined Zimbabwean rugby stakeholders, calling for stronger governance, greater grassroots participation and sustainable revenue streams to build a stable future for the game beyond Rugby World Cup 2027.
HARARE, Zimbabwe – On Tuesday, a World Rugby delegation to Zimbabwe led by Chairman Brett Robinson and Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah, who is also an Executive Board member of the global governing body of the sport, engaged with local stakeholders of the game during a meeting in Harare.
Robinson and Mensah, alongside David Carrigy, World Rugby’s Chief of International Federation, are in Zimbabwe on a four-day visit to discuss the future of the sport in a country which is set to return to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 for the first time since 1991. The Zimbabwean-born David Gilbert, Advisor to the Rugby Africa President, is accompanying the delegation.
On Tuesday morning, at the head offices of Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), a cross-section of stakeholders in Zimbabwean rugby came together to share their thoughts on the way forward for the game. Those present included past and present players, representatives of women’s and youth rugby, referees, coaches, and club and provincial leadership.
After making their presentations, the delegation opened the floor to questions, with participants particularly interested in the growth of Zimbabwean grassroots rugby and the future of the game beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Robinson stressed the need for Zimbabwe to unlock its maximum potential by leveraging the euphoria surrounding its historic World Cup qualification success.
“You have got some really capable people now, working with the IMC (Interim Management Committee running the affairs of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union),” Robinson said. “From our perspective, we just want to see you continue thriving to next year and beyond, and the pathway you have is a really encouraging one. Obviously, there is a need to rebuild trust, sponsors want to make sure that the sport is governed well, their money is going to be well invested. We have confidence in the team here. From my perspective, things are in great shape. The opportunity now is to make sure that the team prepares for November (second phase of World Rugby Nations Cup) and that the team is ready for the World Cup next year.”
Rugby Africa President Mensah once again emphasised the importance of the ZRU and other unions across the continent developing self-sustaining revenue streams so that they do not become overdependent on grants from international bodies.
“If you’re going to run the sport, you are going to look for money internally,” Mensah said. “It starts with everyone, from the provinces all the way up.”
Both Mensah, of Ghana, and Robinson, of Australia, are former rugby players who played in Zimbabwe during their younger years. Mensah played for club side Old Hararians in the 1980s before turning out for Zimbabwean provincial side Mashonaland against Italy in 1985 as a curtain-raiser for a Test match between the European side and the Sables. Robinson travelled to Zimbabwe with an Emerging Wallabies side in 1994 as part of a Southern Africa tour to give exposure to the next generation of Australian rugby stars.
Mensah, who is visiting Zimbabwe for the second time this year, described it as yet another “homecoming”. He also praised the IMC’s work, saying the transitional committee of Zimbabwean rugby will remain in charge until the World Cup late next year.
“I feel honoured to be back in Zimbabwe,” Mensah said. “There is a system and there is a way forward, and we must all be part of that. We are here in Zimbabwe, that is a statement in itself. I can’t go back to the Executive Board and say to Brett, ‘you don’t care, you’ve never been to Africa!’ It is not an individual thing, it’s about Zimbabwe. We want peace, there will be stability, there will not be a handover of anything before 2028. Support the Sables, think about Africa first.”
Gwinyai Mharapara, a board member of the SRC – Zimbabwe’s sports regulatory body – encouraged stakeholders to increase rugby participation in the country alongside good governance in the game.
“We just have to start somewhere,” Mharapara said. “If it’s a small game played in the park, few schools, or wherever. We start where we are. If the budget is 100 dollars, then just let people play rugby. Then there is the issue of good governance and creating investable brands, which in turn brings corporate sponsorship. So if the governance is wrong, no one wants to be associated with something that’s wrong, or has a bad image. You’ll never find that anywhere in the world. I also speak in my position as the SRC’s Legal and Compliance Sub-Committee Head. It is very key.”
Written by Enock Muchinjo
