Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE year was 1991 when Zimbabwe were the only African representatives at the Rugby World Cup that was co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France.
At that time, the Sables were a force to reckon with, however, it would turn out to be their last participation at the global showpiece having also played in the first-ever edition back in 1987 in New Zealand and Australia.
World Cup participation has been a thing of the past since then. Eight editions have gone by without the Sables taking part.
However, the dream of returning to the big boys’ league in 2027 is alive for the Sables.
Having won the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in July, Zimbabwe have already begun their preparations for the 2025 tournament which serves as the direct qualifier to the World Cup that will be hosted by Australia.
At the 2025 tournament, the Sables will be competing against Algeria, Namibia, Kenya, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and the winner of the 2024 Men’s Rugby Africa Cup Repêchage, happening later this year in Morocco and Tunisia for the ticket to Australia.
In a bid to bolster their squad for next year’s qualification, Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) have roped in former Australia centre, Kyle Godwin.
Kyle Godwin
It is that dream of playing in the World Cup that convinced Godwin to retrace his roots to his country of birth for the first time in close to 25 years.
“But, I am very happy to be here with Zimbabwe. I have really enjoyed my career and this is a good opportunity because I am really passionate about the goal that they have here for the Sables to go and achieve and play in the World Cup. When I heard that one, I spoke to Piet about potentially joining the group. That was the big motivator for me.
“Zimbabwe produces a lot of great rugby players. We want to see them on the world stage, we want to see Zimbabwe rugby do well, to get them back at the World Cup. They played the ’87 World Cup and the ’91 World Cup.
We want to see them back playing at the World Cup, they have the talent,” Godwin said in an interview with Kyros Sports.
Upon his arrival in the country on Monday evening, Godwin immediately joined the Sables camp that is preparing for a tour to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea. The tour is a part of the team’s preparations for next year’s Africa Cup.
Godwin added that he was eligible to play for four nations in his career.
“I was eligible to play for Australia because I’m an Australian citizen. I got my citizenship when I lived there. Zimbabwe, because I was born here, my parents were born here, South Africa, my grandparents were born in South Africa, and I actually had a grandfather born in India. So, I could be eligible to play for India,” he said.
Godwin was an Australian professional rugby union player who made his international debut for the Wallabies against France in 2016.
He plays for French club Lyon OU Rugby in the Top 14 competition and has previously represented the Western Force and Brumbies in Super Rugby, where he made his debut in 2012 against the Queensland Reds in Perth.
Over his career, he has played a total of 76 Super Rugby games. Additionally, Godwin was part of the Australia under-20 team that competed in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa.
As the Sables gear up for their November tour, the addition of a player of Godwin’s calibre is sure to energise the squad and enhance their prospects on the international stage. – @brandon_malvin