Inaugural Mashonaland West rugby 7s tournament brings sport to grassroots

Peter TanyanyiwaSports ReporterKutama College hosted the inaugural Mashonaland West Rugby 7s Tournament that featured 11 teams from across the province.The event, which was organised by the Mashonaland West Rugby Association (MWRA) and supported by the Provincial Education Directorate and the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH), was aimed at taking rugby, which is largely viewed as an elite sport, to the grassroots and promote the growth of the sport.Mashonaland West Rugby’s director of coaching and development Courage Madzikatire emphasised the importance of taking rugby to every corner of the province.“We are trying to showcase the rugby talent that we have in Mashonaland West Province,” he said.“What we have decided to do is take rugby to each and every corner of the province. Rugby has so many versions—tag, touch, tens, sevens—so anyone can get involved.“Today, we are witnessing high school students playing sevens rugby at Kutama College, and the turnout is a testament to the hunger for the sport in our communities.”Chairperson of the Mashonaland West provincial rugby board Temba Mliswa highlighted the broader social impact of sport:“When you expose young people to sport and recreation, they want to maintain their wellness and health, steering clear of negative influences like drug abuse and alcoholism,” he said. “Government investment in sport is not just about competition—it’s about building healthier, more resilient communities.”Provincial education director Gabriel Mhuma outlined the education sector’s strategies for embedding rugby in schools:“We have a clear structure and campaign for support.

After this launch, school heads are committed to ensuring rugby is introduced in their schools. We are forming rugby clubs, creating tournaments, and ensuring activities run throughout the year. But for this to succeed, we need meaningful budgets for sports, especially for new disciplines like rugby, where equipment and facilities are lacking.”Mhuma also called for greater parental and community involvement, noting that sustainable sports development requires both financial and moral support from all stakeholders.NASH provincial chairperson, Ekias Zvirevo, expressed excitement at the transformation underway.“As heads, we are really excited.

The idea of changing rugby from being elitist to being inclusive of every school and learner in Mashonaland West really excites us,” he said.“We are embracing this, and I can assure you that going forward, you will see many schools participating in rugby.”The tournament showcased the fast-paced, high-energy format of Rugby Sevens, where teams of seven players compete in 14-minute matches, allowing for multiple games in a single day and providing ample opportunity for talent identification and development.The MWRA’s efforts to take the sport to the grassroots are already bearing fruit, as evidenced by Mashonaland West’s Under-14 boys and girls teams winning gold and silver at the 2025 NAPH National Ball Games in Marondera.Share on FacebookPost on XFollow usSave

Originally published on Zimbabwe Herald

Source: Zimbabwe Herald