Young sables finish with bronze at barthes trophy
Tapiwa Rubaya is the current affairs, fashion and sports reporter at My Afrika Magazine.
Zimbabwe’s Young Sables signed off their Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy campaign with a commanding 38-12 victory over Tunisia on Sunday, 9 August 2026, securing third place in the Performance Division in Kampala, Uganda.
The bronze-medal finish came two days after Zimbabwe’s semi-final defeat to Kenya on Friday, 7 August, when the Young Sables were beaten 35-23.
Determined to end the tournament on a positive note, Zimbabwe returned to Muteesa II Stadium with a renewed sense of purpose and produced a far more convincing performance against Tunisia.
Munangi Kamwendo opened Zimbabwe’s scoring, while fullback Wayne Gandiwa, loosehead prop Kudakwashe Kachambwa, wingers Curtis Mashonganyika and Rukudzo Madinga, replacement forward Mthabisi Ndlovu and captain Takudzwa Matsvimbo also crossed the try line.
Zimbabwe’s improvement was evident throughout the contest as their forwards provided a strong platform and their backs made better use of attacking opportunities.
For Tunisia, the 38-12 loss brought a difficult conclusion to their campaign. The result saw them finish at the bottom of the Performance Division and face relegation.
For Zimbabwe, however, the final-day victory provided an important response to the disappointment of the semi-final. The Young Sables leave Kampala with a bronze medal and valuable experience gained against some of Africa’s strongest emerging rugby nations.
The performance also gives Zimbabwe’s young players a positive platform as they continue their development towards senior international rugby.
The bronze-medal finish came two days after Zimbabwe’s semi-final defeat to Kenya on Friday, 7 August, when the Young Sables were beaten 35-23.
Determined to end the tournament on a positive note, Zimbabwe returned to Muteesa II Stadium with a renewed sense of purpose and produced a far more convincing performance against Tunisia.
Munangi Kamwendo opened Zimbabwe’s scoring, while fullback Wayne Gandiwa, loosehead prop Kudakwashe Kachambwa, wingers Curtis Mashonganyika and Rukudzo Madinga, replacement forward Mthabisi Ndlovu and captain Takudzwa Matsvimbo also crossed the try line.
Zimbabwe’s improvement was evident throughout the contest as their forwards provided a strong platform and their backs made better use of attacking opportunities.
For Tunisia, the 38-12 loss brought a difficult conclusion to their campaign. The result saw them finish at the bottom of the Performance Division and face relegation.
For Zimbabwe, however, the final-day victory provided an important response to the disappointment of the semi-final. The Young Sables leave Kampala with a bronze medal and valuable experience gained against some of Africa’s strongest emerging rugby nations.
The performance also gives Zimbabwe’s young players a positive platform as they continue their development towards senior international rugby.
