THE Zimbabwe National Senior Women’s Rugby Team, the Lady Sables, will be looking to end the 2025 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup qualifiers with a flourish when they take on a strong Uganda side in Ivory Coast today.
After winning of the two matches they have played so far, the Lady Sables have a slim chance of going through to the main continental championship and will need to overcome an unbeaten Uganda with a huge margin.
Having entered the tournament ranked lowest among the four competing nations, Zimbabwe got the tournament off to a flying start with a 46-8 win over hosts Ivory Coast.
And in heartbreaking fashion lost the second match to Tunisia right at the death after recovering from a 12-point deficit at halftime to take the lead and failing to cross the line, with the match finishing 27-24 in favour of the North Africans.
The Lady Sables will be looking to cause a major upset when they take on Uganda at noon.
Team captain Skhumbuzo Muchenje vowed that the team will give everything in the match.
“We don’t often get a chance to play Test rugby. We will make the most of this last match and give it everything we have,” she said.
Muchenje also reflected on the two matches that the team has played so far.
“That win against Ivory Coast sparked something in us. We had promised to bring some smiles back home, and that performance gave us a taste of victory that we want to enjoy again,” Muchenje added.
“Things didn’t work well for us and it was heartbreaking in game two a(against Tunisia).But that’s rugby — it’s a game of margins, and sometimes things don’t go your way.”
Uganda will be looking to seal qualification to the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Cape Town this May.
But Zimbabwe also remains in contention, and a win could reshape the final table depending on results elsewhere.
In the other match of the day Tunisia will be hoping to beat Ivory Coast and hope that the Lady Sables claim a commanding win over Uganda to tilt the tournament in their favour.
Zimbabwe Women’s Rugby Chairperson Regina Mwanandiwa expressed pride at the team’s efforts so far which is a reflection of a long-term plan to grow the women’s game.
“We are proud of the team, and are actively working towards ambitious goals beyond this tournament — expanding the game to create platforms for university scholarships and fostering pathways for international rugby careers.”
