World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson, head of rugby’s global governing body, will make an official five-day visit to Zimbabwe from Sunday, August 23, to Thursday, August 27, accompanied by Rugby Africa President and World Rugby Executive Board Member Herbert Mensah and World Rugby Chief of International Federations David Carrigy.
The visit comes at a defining moment for Zimbabwean rugby, with the Sables preparing for their first Rugby World Cup appearance since 1991 after securing Africa’s qualification spot for the 2027 tournament in Australia.
With 135 member unions across six regional associations, more than two-thirds of the world’s countries are represented within World Rugby’s membership, which encompasses more than 500 million fans and eight million players globally.
Robinson, who was elected Chair of World Rugby in November 2024, will meet senior government officials, rugby stakeholders and partners during the visit. The discussions will focus on Zimbabwe’s Rugby World Cup preparations, player welfare, high-performance structures, investment, governance and the long-term development of rugby in the country.
“Zimbabwe is a standout example of rugby’s growth and progress across Africa and beyond. The ambition, passion and commitment shown throughout the country reflect World Rugby’s mission to grow the game, bring people together and create a positive impact. The Sables’ qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia and the World Rugby Nations Cup is a testament to that progress. I am confident the people of Zimbabwe will unite behind the team with great pride as they represent their nation on one of sport’s biggest stages. Beyond these achievements, Zimbabwe has a rich rugby heritage and one of the longest rugby traditions in Africa. I look forward to engaging with the rugby community and government next week to discuss these important opportunities for the game,” said Brett Robinson, Chair of World Rugby.
“The imminent visit to Zimbabwe by the Chair of World Rugby, Brett Robinson, is truly extraordinary. It is a massive statement that World Rugby is backing Zimbabwe, supporting the Sables and recognising the importance of what is happening in the country. Zimbabwe has shown that, with the right competitive base, investment and planning, African teams can compete strongly on the international stage. We must make sure that when we put together these tournaments, we do it in a different way. We’ve expanded the Rugby World Cup to 24 nations, and every single one of them must have a chance to prepare themselves professionally, right through to the competition,” said Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and Executive Board Member at World Rugby.
The visit follows Zimbabwe’s participation in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, a new international competition designed to provide more regular, high-level Test rugby and strengthen the competitive pathway for nations preparing for the Rugby World Cup.
The Sables faced Tonga, the United States and Canada in the first phase of the competition, gaining valuable experience against established international opposition. The Nations Cup forms part of a broader evolution of the international rugby calendar, providing emerging and established unions with more meaningful matches and stronger competitive pathways.
Robinson’s visit also has a personal connection. The Australian former Wallaby previously played rugby in Zimbabwe, and his return to the country as Chair of the global governing body adds a unique dimension to the visit.
The delegation will engage with government and rugby authorities on how the momentum generated by World Cup qualification can translate into sustainable development across the game, from the national team and high-performance structures to grassroots participation and commercial partnerships.
Zimbabwe’s return to the Rugby World Cup after 36 years, combined with its participation in the Nations Cup, has created an important platform for the country to strengthen its rugby structures and raise the profile of the sport nationally. For World Rugby, Zimbabwe’s return represents an important part of its vision for a truly global sport – one in which nations from every region can develop, compete internationally and build sustainable rugby programmes.
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