Zimbabwe’s Sables will walk onto the biggest stage in rugby in 2027, joining the elite company of nations who have already secured their place at the Rugby World Cup in Australia. For the first time since 1991, Zimbabwe will compete against the game’s giants, and the scale of the challenge is immense.
The qualified teams already include heavyweights such as New Zealand, South Africa, England, and France, alongside rising nations like Portugal, Georgia, and Chile. For the Sables, these match-ups present both a stern test and an invaluable opportunity to measure themselves against the very best in world rugby.
Significantly, Zimbabwe and South Africa stand as the only two African nations in the tournament, a proud milestone that underscores the Sables’ achievement. It is also a powerful reminder of the gulf that exists in African rugby, one Zimbabwe will be eager to close by proving they belong on this global platform.
With only one qualifying spot left to be filled, the list of contenders is all but complete, giving the Sables something most teams rarely enjoy—ample preparation time. This two-year window offers them the chance to refine their structures, build squad depth, and expose their players to higher-level rugby ahead of the competition.
Facing world-class outfits will be no easy task, but it is exactly the kind of test Zimbabwean rugby has long needed. The Sables have time, belief, and now, a golden ticket to rugby’s greatest show.
