Sables Host Namibia in Harare as Rugby Returns to National Sports Stadium

Written by Praise Dumi Dhlakama
Zimbabwe sports betting writer
Published 23 October 2026

Zimbabwe’s senior men’s rugby team, the Sables, will run out at the refurbished National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday for a Test match against old rivals Namibia, the first major international rugby match at the venue in over a decade.

The occasion is as much about announcing Zimbabwe’s return to the global stage as it is about the result. Kick-off is at 3pm.

A long home jinx against Namibia

The history between these two nations is heavy. Zimbabwe have not beaten Namibia on home soil since July 2001, when the Sables edged a 27-26 thriller. In the years since, Namibia have dominated the fixture, though the tide has turned recently.

The most significant recent meeting was a dramatic 30-28 victory for Zimbabwe in the final of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda. That win ended a long wait for World Cup qualification, booking the Sables’ place at the 2027 tournament in Australia, their first appearance since 1991.

Coaching boost ahead of the World Cup

Zimbabwe have strengthened their technical team ahead of the Test, with former Wallabies assistant Laurie Fisher joining as a breakdown specialist and former Exeter coach Ricky Pellow coming in as backs and attack coach. Both are working with the squad alongside head coach Pieter Benade.

Pellow spent 16 years at Exeter Chiefs, winning the English Premiership in 2017 and 2020 and the European Champions Cup in 2020.

The bigger picture

This Test is the Sables’ final home warm-up before a November Nations Cup series in Europe, where they will face Samoa and Uruguay in England before taking on Chile in France. Then comes the World Cup itself, where Zimbabwe have been drawn in a demanding pool alongside England, Wales and Tonga. Their opening match is against Wales at the Adelaide Oval on 2 October 2027.

For now, the focus is on Saturday. A victory over Namibia would send the crowd at the National Sports Stadium home happy and provide the perfect launchpad for Zimbabwe’s return to rugby’s biggest stage.