By Kuchineyi Lewis
KAMPALA, UGANDA – July 7, 2025 — The Zimbabwe Sables have officially named their starting XV for the opening match of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup against Morocco marking the beginning of their high-stakes journey toward Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification.
Set to kick off at 10:00 a.m. East Africa Time at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Nambole, the match is far more than a routine quarter-final.
This match is a defining moment for Zimbabwean rugby, a test of both form and ambition as the defending champions look to cement their status as Africa’s top side.
Just a year ago, the Sables lifted the Africa Cup on the same Ugandan turf, toppling regional heavyweights with a potent mix of grit, strategy, and unity.
Now they return not as underdogs, but as the hunted, defending champions burdened with expectation and inspired by the dream of World Cup redemption.
Head coach Pieter Benade has made it clear that the mood in camp is focused and the preparation exacting. His tone, like the team’s mindset, is deliberate and steady with just purpose.
“The boys are ready and in a good space. We have to turn up to the task tomorrow at 10 o’clock,” said Benade after the team’s final runout.
Their opponents, Morocco, present a formidable challenge riding a wave of success in 2024 and bolstered by a core of French-based players, the North Africans bring physicality, set-piece strength, and tactical discipline.
“Morocco had a very successful year. It will be up to us to match their physicality and accuracy,” Benade acknowledged.
Zimbabwe’s leadership will rely heavily on the composure of captain Hilton Mudariki, who earns his 54th cap on Tuesday.
Calm and assured following Monday’s captain’s run, Mudariki emphasized the team’s mental readiness.
“This journey started last year and it continues. Mentally we have done all the work,” he said.
Mudariki also addressed the pressure that comes with being tournament favourites.
“There is always pressure, but we are focusing on ourselves. We know exactly what we want to bring to this tournament,” he admitted.
In a late but notable addition, 27-year-old England-based winger Matthew McNab who is known for his finishing ability and acceleration, brings added firepower to a backline that already boasts experience and flair.
Though he arrived only hours before the team’s final session, McNab has seamlessly slotted in, a testament to the cohesion within the camp.
Zimbabwe’s squad includes a balanced blend of veterans and rising talent, with halfbacks Mudariki and Ian Prior expected to control the tempo in a contest that promises physicality and emotional intensity.
Against a tactically conservative Moroccan side intent on disrupting flow and asserting forward dominance, the Sables will need discipline and clarity.
This is more than a quarter-final. It is a litmus test for a team aiming not just to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but to do so with authority.
For Zimbabwe, the next chapter is a larger mission kicking off at 10:00 a.m. Kampala time (09:00 in Harare) to lead African rugby from the front.
