Junior Bok and England No.8 among targets for Zimbabwe's 2027 World Cup squad

Zimbabwe head coach Pieter Benade says the Sables are happy to play the waiting game as a host of overseas stars consider making themselves available ahead of their return to the Rugby World Cup stage in 2027.

Former Junior Springbok Eli Snyman, ex-England XV No.8 Dave Ewers, Bristol prop Lovejoy Chawatama and Racing 92 back-rower Shingi Manyarara are among the uncapped Zimbabwe-born players that have been approached.

However, a range of issues may prevent the quartet coming on board in time for the Springbok A game on 20 June, or the inaugural Nations Cup in July and November, or at all.

Standing at just over two metres tall, Snyman would be an invaluable addition to the Sables’ lineout, while Benade says they’d have human wrecking ball Ewers “in a heart beat.”

Whilst never capped, Ewers played No.8 for England against the Barbarians in 2014 and also represented England Saxons, as well being an intergral member of Exeter’s Premiership-winning team.

“We are chatting to Eli Snyman, the Benetton lock and captain. He’s moving clubs (to Ulster), so he has things to consider … does he need more time to settle, will the club be annoyed if they’ve just signed you and you go away for a month. With guys of that quality we will be patient, they can join us next year or November, hopefully,” Benade revealed.

As for Ewers, fitness issues could be a stumbling block. “He’s spoken about possibly coming back. We asked him if he can make it in June this year because we have got that South Africa game (20 June), which is out of the window, as we are trying to find a couple of boys who can cope at that level,” Benade added.

“We’d obviously take him in a heart beat because he’d add to our depth, for sure. But it’s just a bit early for him. I think he is in a phase of considering but he just needs his body to settle down a bit; he probably needs surgery on his shoulder and his knee to settle. He is not against playing, he is considering it. But nothing has been finalised yet from his side.

Bristol prop Lovejoy Chawatama, 33, is another PREM-based Zimbabwean on Benade’s radar. “We are also chatting to Lovejoy, but it is also tricky with the contracts because he is an EQP player (English-qualified), and if he plays for us that falls away.”

Racing 92 back-rower Shingi Manyarara, who has played for Zimbabwe U20s, but not at senior level, looks like one that may have already got away. “I think he is keen to pursue the France route,” Benade revealed.

Northampton prop Cleopas Kundiona was a mainstay of Zimbabwe’s successful Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign, while back-rower Jason Fraser, who has also been capped and plays for USON Nevers in France’s Pro D2, is another overseas-based player that the Sables will be turning to.

Meanwhile, Benade is hopeful that former Force half-back Ian Prior, the Sables’ leading man in helping them get to Australia next year, can continue to fight back the years.

Prior, who will be 37 when the World Cup begins, is due to the link up with the team again in time for the Nations Cup fixtures against Tonga, USA and Canada.

“He’s been amazing for us, a super good leader, a super good professional,” said Benade.

“He is keeping himself ticking over and we’ll get him back in July and hopefully we can keep him on the pitch and in good form over the next 18 months.