The Zimbabwe star pro clubs should be fighting over, according to Ian Prior

The Nations Cup is in full swing, and Zimbabwe’s Sables took the fight to Tonga in their first game, pushing the Pacific Island nation to the limit. While the African nation ended up conceding a 36-26 loss, they showed they aren’t in the competition to make up the numbers.

With the likes of Jason Fraser, Hilton Mudariki, Edward Sigauke and Simba Mandioma impressing, it looks like rugby fans can be thrilled over the next few games, a view endorsed by their veteran player Ian Prior.

The former Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and Western Force utility back was pivotal for the Sables’ well-rounded performance on Saturday, generating the plays that led to their second and third tries and pumping six points from the tee.

At 35, Prior has found a second life with the Sables.

“You are always young in your soul. I still remember playing in Super Rugby and being one of the youngest guys in the team. I still feel the same until I start seeing the dates of birth of my current teammates, and it hits me. But I’m enjoying this setup, and as long as I’m adding value, I want to stick around,” he said.

The fly-half devised a catalogue of plays that pushed Zimbabwe towards the Tongan in-goal area, boosting his side’s chances of landing what could’ve been a historic result.

Player Carries

1

Otunuku Pauta

12

2

Sonatane Takulua

11

3

Tapiwa Mafura

11

While their promising outing caught many by surprise, Prior saw it coming, knowing the team had been putting in the work to take the step to the next level.

“Deep down, I’ve always had a lot of belief in ourselves, with the amount of talent we’ve got, which you saw on full display. We were keen to test ourselves against a quality Tongan outfit, and we were able to express ourselves.”

As for what went right and wrong, the Australian-born utility back has a clear understanding of where the team could have been better.

“Tonga got off to a really fast start, with them being very physical from the get-go. We were able to find our groove and made our way back into the match, applying some pressure and getting rewards from some of our unstructured play.”

Although Tonga’s superior physicality proved decisive in the end, Prior was proud of the effort shown by himself and his teammates, pointing to the considerable growth the side had displayed since the team first met up just a few weeks ago.

“We are one Test Match in, but you could see the improvements since our game against South Africa ‘A’.” said the Australian-born points machine.

“If we keep testing ourselves over these two test matches and then in November, it will expose us to the right experience to build our cohesion. We have the raw talent and athleticism to play some exciting rugby.”

For Prior, the Nations Cup represents a new era for the Sables, offering the chance to compete against stronger opposition and raise their standards to new heights.

“I couldn’t speak more highly about the competition and how it is formatted. I’ve been involved with the Sables setup for the past three years, and this is the first time, aside from tests against the UAE and South Korea, that we’ve played against sides from outside of Africa. This tournament gives us more exposure to high-level rugby and puts the entire setup of Zimbabwe rugby to the challenge.”

That exposure might not only be crucial for Zimbabwe’s future as a team but also provide a pathway to greater recognition for some of its top local players, many of whom have never had the opportunity to play professionally.

Sigauke, who plays his club rugby for Emeris in Johannesburg, scored a brilliant try and set up another, as well as carrying for more metres than any other player and the pitch and being ranked joint-first for defenders beaten (six).

“I have no idea how a guy like Edward Sigauke isn’t signed full-time somewhere. If I were a coach, I would be snapping him really quickly. I have played with some high-quality wingers who can beat four or five people in five metres, and Sigauke is at that level. The Nations Cup can help these guys get to bigger and better things.”

Looking now to what comes next, Zimbabwe will lock horns with the hosts, the United States of America, in what is expected to be another competitive match-up, and with their minds already focused on the task at hand, Prior outlined what the Sables need to do if they hope to produce a special result.

“Tidying up our set-piece is going to be crucial (the Sables’ lineout success was just 61%), and having our aerial game ready for the contest.

“They are a quality team, well-drilled, well-resourced, and you could see that in their game against Portugal. They seem to all be on the same page in terms of how they want to play and what they are trying to do.”

With the cards laid on the table, can Zimbabwe go the extra mile and claim a few upsets in the 2026 Nations Cup?

“The proof is in the pudding.” confides Prior.

“We will have to wait and see. It was encouraging to be leading Tonga with 10 minutes to go. Unfortunately, a bit of indiscipline slipped in, and they were clinical in taking their chances. We are working to improve our game.”

One thing is clear: Prior takes great pride in representing his adopted nation and has no intention of stopping until his body tells him otherwise.

“I’ve been quite lucky to have been able to play at a high level for quite a while, so in my preparation for the Nations Cup I knew where I needed to be physically in terms of running and strength markers.

“At the end of the day, it is four white lines, two sets of posts, and when you are in the mix and in the arena, you have to make sure that you’ve prepared yourself as best you can.”