The ManicaPost
Blessing Gondokondo Sports Reporter
MUTARE Sports Club and Mountain Lions have agreed to bury the hatchet and work together for the development of rugby in Mutare.
Mountain Lions Rugby Club which is coached by Brendon Chombo will participate in the Sevens series, while Mutare Sports Club which is under the tutelage of Mackenzie Munetsi will participate the 15s format of the sport next season.
The development comes after a long discussion between Manicaland Rugby Board chairman, Josiah Borerwe and Chombo who is also the provincial development officer of rugby in Manicaland schools.
Borerwe said dividing tasks between the two clubs would create a lot of opportunities to both clubs.
“Mountain Lions and Mutare Sports Club are one and they should work as a team since unity is all that matters in the world of sport.
“This sharing of tasks where one club has to focus more on one version of the sport allows one to create a buffer for the other.
“Next season, Manicaland teams will be complementing each other. This development will cascade to rugby playing schools,” said Borerwe.
Since the formation of Mountain Lions Rugby Club this year it has been playing at its best in the Sevens, while Mutare Sports Club has never changed its game play.
Meanwhile, the two teams will always face each other if they meet in any Sevens tournament. Chombo confirmed that in 2017 his club will be concentrating in the Sevens League.
“We are beginning to shape players for the best leagues of the Sevens tournament come 2017. The club has been sweating it out in preparation for next year’s series. Our major plan is to focus on the Sevens series next year.
“This development is due to the introduction of tag rugby at the club where primary pupils will be trained by professionals for the non-conduct rugby. We want to bring rugby glory to our province,” he said.
Chombo said plans were underway to have a rugby academy in Mutare.
