All set for Nedbank Challenge Cup

THE highly anticipated Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup is set to get underway on Saturday at the Harare Sports Club with tournament director Shaun De Souza expressing readiness to host a successful and competitive tournament.

Innocent Kurira

Eight teams are expected to take part in this year’s edition of the competition, which will be held over two weekends, March 16-17 and March 23-24.

These include the traditional heavyweights Old Georgians, Old Hararians, Harare Sports Club, Pitbulls/Harare Select and the Nedbank Under-20 Junior Sables team.

Also set to participate are Matabeleland and Manicaland Select sides.

The Matabeleland teams will comprise players from Old Miltonians, Warriors, Highlanders, Gweru Sports Club, Mimosa and Zvishavane, while the Manicaland team will have players from Mutare Sports Club, Spartans, Africa University, Rusape and Mutare Polytechnic.

The Zimbabwe Under-20 training squad has been divided into two, the Nedbank Under-20 Junior Sables team and a Nedbank High-Performance team.

De Souza takes charge of the Junior Sables team, while Marvin Chirume will be in charge of the High-Performance side.

“We are just fine tuning the last few things and everything on track for the event. There is huge excitement in the air. Players are excited with the prizes that are there.

“The teams and players are all excited for this event which is good for the game and great to see. When players are showing this extra commitment it’s really a great sight,” said De Souza.

He said the junior Sables squad for the Barthes Trophy in April should be finalised by March 24.

“From the Under-20 side of things we are at the stage of finalising the two teams that will play as the Junior Sables squad and the High Performance Squad. The High Performance Squad is made up largely of players we are developing for next year and a few guys we want to see before the final Barthes Trophy squad announcement on March 24. There is excitement around and we are looking forward to a successful tournament,” said De Souza.

About US$9 000 has been set aside as team and individual prizemoney. The winners of the tournament will walk away with US$4 000, while the second and third-placed teams will get US$2 500 and US$1 250, respectively.

There will also be a host of individual prizes for Coach of the Tournament (US$350), Most Valuable Player (US$250), Most Promising Player (US$150) and Best Referee (US$250).

Previously, there was nothing in terms of individual incentives.

The Junior Sables are the Barthes Trophy defending champions and will be looking to make it three wins in a row after claiming the 2022 and 2023 editions.

The winner of this year’s Barthes Trophy will then join Uruguay, the Netherlands, and the United States of America or Canada in Pool B of the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy set for July 2-17 in Edinburgh, Scotland.