Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
VICTORIOUS Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby team returned home this week to a rapturous welcome at the Robert Mugabe International Airport, where scores of ecstatic supporters, families, friends, and officials from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union received the team from the 2024 finals held in Uganda.
The euphoria of their fairy-tale success story was also felt countrywide.
In Manicaland, focus zeroed in on former Chirowakwamwe Primary School, Nyamauru High School and Mutare Boys’ High School learner, Tadiwanashe Gwashu, who was part of the triumphant Sables Class of 2024.
The Sables lifted the Rugby Africa Cup trophy on Sunday at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, beating Algeria 29-3 in the finals.
This saw Zimbabwe putting its second Rugby Africa Cup trophy in the cabinet since 2012 when they won the inaugural one.
Eighth man, Gwashu, who was part of this epic tale, did his primary education in the sprawling suburb of Dangamvura at Chirowakamwe Primary School, before enrolling for his secondary education at Nyamauru High School also in the same suburb where he did Form One to Four.
A gifted athlete, Gwashu was known for 100 metres athletics sprinting, before being introduced to the game of rugby at A-Level at Mutare Boys’ High School.
Gwashu had this to say: “Mutare Boys’ High School played a huge role in my career because that is where it all started. I started playing rugby 2017 at that school.”
Gwashu told Post Sport that the recent Sables success was a result of hard work and the brotherhood that prevailed in the camp.
“It was a huge performance that was fuelled by a lot of hard work from the boys and the coaches. It was a great performance from all the 28-man squad that went to Uganda. The brotherhood that we had in camp was a big part because we really enjoyed playing with each other, and we pushed each other to be the best,” he said.
The Sables, led by their coach, Piet Benade, also beat hosts, Uganda and bogey side, Namibia along the way.
The triumph secured Zimbabwe as the top seed for next year’s competition, which will serve as the main qualifiers for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The competition will feature the top four teams from the recent tournament — Zimbabwe, Algeria, Namibia and Kenya — with the finalist securing their berth in the global showcase.
And adequate preparations become key.
“The future of Zimbabwe rugby is super bright, and I believe this is the start of something special for the years to come. With the hunger that we have, both as players and coaches, I think we are going somewhere. The goal is to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, and we are working towards that,” said Gwashu, fondly know in the rugby circles as The Bus.
“I loved Julian Savea, a player from New Zealand whose nickname was The Bus and I just stole his nickname,” he said.
The Sables won 32-10 against Namibia, breaking a 23-year winless jinx against their fellow Southern African opponents.
This was a major talking point after the Rugby Africa Cup competition in Uganda.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated the Sables for a job well done.
“Congratulations to the Zimbabwe Sables for winning the Rugby Africa Cup 2024! We are all proud of you!” said the President, highlighting the national pride and unity brought about by their victory.
