Sables ready for historic South Africa ‘A’ showdown

The Zimbabwe Sables are entering the final stages of preparation ahead of one of the biggest fixtures in recent memory as they prepare to take on South Africa ‘A’ this weekend.

The match represents another significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s rugby resurgence following their qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and regardless of the result, it promises to be a valuable experience for the players and coaching staff alike.

Piet Benade’s men have spent the last two weeks in South Africa fine-tuning their preparations. Their training camp began in Limpopo, where they played a warm-up fixture against the Limpopo Blue Bulls, before relocating to Stellenbosch. There, the Sables have had the opportunity to train alongside the Junior Springboks, exposing the squad to a high-performance environment as they continue building towards the Nations Series.

Several new faces have been included in the training squad, with one of the most notable additions being Gary Porter of the Stormers. Porter’s experience within the South African rugby system and familiarity with many of the players and structures will be invaluable as Zimbabwe prepares to face one of the continent’s strongest rugby programmes.

The South Africa ‘A’ side is expected to feature an exciting blend of youth and experience. Among the names likely to attract attention are highly-rated youngsters Zekhethelo Siyaya and Markus Muller, both fresh out of school rugby and attached to the Sharks and Stormers respectively. The squad also includes Junior Springbok stars Bathobele Hlekani and Hashim Pead, who helped South Africa win last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship.

Adding further quality to the side is Springbok veteran Lukhanyo Am, whose experience at the highest level of the game will provide leadership and composure.

For the Sables, this is more than just a match. It is an opportunity to measure their progress, gain valuable experience, and continue building confidence ahead of the Nations Series. Win or lose, it will be a special day for Zimbabwean rugby.