Staff Writer 
THE Harare Under-20 Rugby League begins its first week of action this weekend at Old Georgians, showcasing an impressive 30 teams, including 24 boys’ teams and six girls’ teams.
Harare Province Rugby chair Ambrose Tinotenda Sakala said the upcoming year will mark a significant growth in participation, with the number of teams almost doubling from last year’s 18
He said the tournament will include three distinct categories: the Women’s Premiership, Men’s Premiership, and Men’s Division One. Each category will follow a round-robin format, allowing every team the opportunity to compete against one another before advancing to the semifinals and finals.
A unique feature of the Men’s Premiership, according to Sakala, will be the inclusion of a Namibian club, which will face the fourth-ranked team, with the winner securing a spot in the semifinals.
“This league is where most, if not all, locally- based players start. These players then progress to the national U20 team, feeding into higher levels of competition,” said Sakala.
A Championship Cup has been introduced as part of this year’s league to serve as a developmental league featuring three groups of four teams.
“The Championship Cup signifies a major change in our tournament structure. It’s the first U19 league of its kind in the region. By prioritising development at the grassroots level, we hope to nurture the future stars of Zimbabwean rugby,” said Sakala
Among the new teams joining the league this year are SDRA24, the academy of national U20 coach Shaun Desouza, Rockstars, the reigning champions, from Manicaland, and Stallions, a team from Namibia.
“Harare U20 is special because we have clubs from all over, including Rockstars from Mutare, Diggers from Kwekwe, Talons from Marondera, and Knights from Chinhoyi. It showcases a vibrant rugby community eager to test their skills against the best,” added Sakala.
By Sandra Hove
