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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 49289, member: 636"]
Zimbabwe rugby stars landed in Uganda on Saturday ready to defend their continental crown. The Sables want another Africa Cup victory to book their ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Head coach Pieter Benade brought back most of his championship squad from last year's triumph. The team broke a painful 12-year trophy drought when they claimed the Rugby Africa Cup title in 2024. Their success gave Zimbabwe fans hope after decades of disappointment.

The Sables face Morocco on July 8 in their tournament opener. Benade believes keeping the same players gives his team the best chance of success. He praised the squad chemistry that helped Zimbabwe win their first major rugby prize since 2012. The coach thinks good memories from last year will boost team spirit during the competition. Two training sessions will prepare the players before they take on Morocco.

Eight African nations will battle for just one automatic World Cup qualification spot. The winner of Zimbabwe versus Morocco advances to face either Uganda or Kenya in the semi-final round. Uganda hosts the tournament and will play rival Kenya in an East African showdown. The Sables have not reached a World Cup since 1991 despite qualifying twice in rugby history. Their first appearance came in 1987 when the tournament began. The runner-up team gets one final chance through a global playoff competition for the last available World Cup place.
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