Zimbabwe national rugby union team
rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is nicknamed the Sables. They play rugby for Zimbabwe in competitions. The team is managed by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union. It first played in 1981 against Kenya. They have competed at the first two Rugby World Cups in 1987 and 1991. They are ranked 32th in the World Rugby ranking as of July 2022.
| Nickname(s) | The Sables | |
|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Sable antelope | |
| Union | Zimbabwe Rugby Union | |
| Head coach | Brendon Dawson | |
| Captain | Hilton Mudariki | |
| Home stadium | Various | |
| ||
| World Rugby ranking | ||
| Current | 31 (as of 20 March 2023) | |
| Highest | 26 (2015) | |
| Lowest | 57 (2007, 2008) | |
| First international | ||
| Southern Rhodesia 11–24 British and Irish Lions (Bulawayo, Rhodesia; 30 July 1910) as Zimbabwe  Kenya 24–34 Zimbabwe  (Nairobi, Kenya, 23 May 1981) | ||
| Biggest win | ||
Zimbabwe 130–10 Botswana  (Harare, Zimbabwe 9 September 1996) | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
 Namibia 80–6 Zimbabwe (Windhoek, Namibia; 15 August 2015) | ||
| World Cup | ||
| Appearances | 2 (First in 1987) | |
| Best result | Pool stage (1987, 1991) | |
| Website | zimbabwerugbyunion.co.zw | |
