LONG READ How Zimbabwe, led by Hilton Mudariki and hot-stepper Eddie Siguake are desperate to make up for lost time

More than fifteen years ago, Hilton Mudariki was on a mission to see how far he could go. A talented schoolboy rugby player in South Africa, he had grown up idolising the Springboks, dreaming of one day wearing the green and gold. At 19, he found himself among the country’s brightest prospects at the final stages of U20 trials. One by one, other hopefuls were sent home, but Mudariki kept making the cut. Then came the request for his passport.

“They were like, ‘Dude, what are you doing? Like, you obviously don’t qualify’. I just wanted to see how far I could go, how good I was, that I could compete with the rest of the guys. That under-20 team was the one that went on to win the Junior World Championship in South Africa in 2012, and the guys that have come out of that team – Steven Kitshoff to name one.”

Mudariki had to be patient while ex-teammates and school friends went on to play Super Rugby, achieve international honours, and, in the case of Kitshoff, win the Rugby World Cup. After three unsuccessful attempts to qualify, Zimbabwe are finally heading back to rugby’s top table in 2027, with Mudariki leading the way. As the Sables prepare for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991, Mudariki is all too aware of what this could mean for his country and for a new generation of fans.

“The best thing for me is just walking around Harare and seeing little kids wearing Sables rugby jerseys, whereas before it was, you’d find a kid wearing an All Black jersey or a Springbok jersey because they didn’t have anything to connect with or to look up to. Through what we did in the Africa Cup and qualifying for the World Cup and Nations Cup now, we’ve given that young little nine, or 10-year-old hope.”

The Sables captain is candid about how close he came to walking away from the national team after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. After months of gruelling training, which Mudariki describes as perfect preparation, the team fell short and the then-30-year-old felt as though his dream of appearing at a World Cup was gone forever.

“That really took a lot out of me. And I almost, I just told myself, listen, I think this is it. It’s never gonna happen again. If it doesn’t happen now, it’s definitely not gonna happen again.”

A year or so later, a conversation with incoming head coach Pieter “Piet” Benade convinced Mudariki not to give up on his dream.

“Piet came in as head coach, called me in for a meeting, sat me down and explained his vision and what he wanted to do and how he thought that I could contribute to that. After a couple of conversations, I just thought to myself, let’s give it one more go, but let’s go on a year-on-year kind of thing.”

Zimbabwe’s remarkable success in recent years means there are some younger members of the squad that have only known what it feels like to be part of a winning Sables team.

What followed was an unprecedented period of success for Zimbabwean rugby. In 2024, they beat continental rivals Namibia for the first time in over 20 years on their way to winning the country’s first Africa Rugby Cup since 2012. There was a sense that the team was building towards something none of them had ever experienced before.

“I asked myself, ‘You know what, why not just give it one more shot?’ Then 2025 comes around, with a [Rugby Africa Cup] final against Namibia. Family in the stands. We take that by two points. Looking back now, I’m so grateful to Piet for convincing me to hang in there, for sharing his vision with me and getting me on board because I probably would have regretted stepping away.”

The country’s remarkable success in recent years means there are some younger members of the squad that have only known what it feels like to be part of a winning Sables team. Mudariki mentions the likes of centre Dion Khumalo and electric winger Eddie Sigauke, who graduated straight out of a successful U20 team into a title-winning senior group. Youngsters like Sigauke may not have experienced the difficult years themselves, but they are still keenly aware of how lucky they are to be in a team environment like this one.

“I would have loved to watch some of the Zimbabwe legends play. I didn’t get that opportunity because they were not necessarily on the big stage. Now, I’m happy that we get to do that. We’re literally doing it for a 6-year-old, 7-year-old who looks at Edward and thinks, I want to be a Sable when I grow up.”

Sigauke made headlines when he signed with Harlequins in August, fresh off the back of some eye-catching displays for his country in July’s Nations Cup matches. He is yet to make a competitive appearance for his new side, but is already carving out a reputation for himself with two tries in the friendly win over Edinburgh and a brilliant solo effort in a Harlequins ‘Jesters’ win over Leicester Tigers U23. While Quins fans are keen to see The Transporter unleashed, Sigauke is busy toiling away at the unglamorous aspects of his game and relishing the opportunity to work in an elite club environment.

Most of the time we get away with having an Eddie [Sigauke] that makes something out of nothing, but the higher you go, the more you need to earn those moments.

Hilton Mudariki

“It’s a real honour and a privilege [to sign for Harlequins], but, at the same time, I’m here to compete and do my best. It’s an exciting time. I can’t wait for the World Cup to come up because I feel like I’ll be a way better player than I am now.”

As with most Tier Two nations, Zimbabwean stars are few and far between in the world’s top leagues. At 22, Sigauke is looking to carry his country’s torch in England. Further afield, Tinotenda Mavesere has gained vital URC experience with the Sharks that he is hoping will pay dividends on the international stage. Having made his international debut in 2019, Mavesere captained Zimbabwe for the first time in July, stepping in after Mudariki suffered an injury. The 28-year-old is keen to build on the positives from those matches, which ended in competitive defeats against Tonga, the USA, and Canada.

“We had a lot of moments in the games where we dominated them. We had a lot of moments in the game where our plan worked, but I think what we really need more is a lot more detail in our structure. We need to be more structured because the higher you get, the more you need to operate as a team and less as individuals. Most of the time we get away with having an Eddie [Sigauke] that makes something out of nothing, but the higher you go, the more you need to earn those moments.”

For Zimbabwe, players with Mavesere’s experience are invaluable. With limited time together during international windows, players accustomed to the demands of elite club rugby can help raise standards across the squad. Sigauke is following that path too, and there could well be more in the future, especially if players impress during the Nations Cup matches.

The team will have another opportunity to showcase their improvements this month, with Nations Cup matches against Samoa, Uruguay, and Chile. Both Mudariki and Mavesere stress the importance of these games for the team’s development one year out from their country’s first World Cup in their lifetimes. Their short-term focus is on those matches, but Mudariki has allowed himself to imagine how it will feel to lead his country out on the world stage.

“We want to put on a show. We want to be the people’s team…We want to be noticed and that’ll be great for people to see what Zimbabwe rugby is all about.”

“We want to put on a show. We want to be the people’s team…We want to be noticed and that’ll be great for people to see what Zimbabwe rugby is all about.”

The road to Australia began many years ago, but its final stretch begins on Saturday against Samoa. For those unfamiliar with the Sables, November offers an opportunity to discover a team determined to make up for lost time, and one that promises to entertain along the way. And when the ball finds its way to Eddie Sigauke’s wing, spectators would do well to follow the same advice as those attempting to tackle him. Don’t blink.