THE Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 will have 22 players to choose from for the rest of the Coca-Cola Craven Week after wing Tafadziswa Bunu was banned for the rest of the tournament for getting a red card during the Junior Sables’ opening fixture against Leopards at St Stithians College on Tuesday.

Bunu was sent off by referee Johre Botha in the 46th minute for getting a second yellow card. The lanky wing had initially been sent to the sin bin for a high tackle in the first half. He got his second yellow card for a spear tackle a few minutes after he had returned from his temporary suspension, leaving Botha to show him a red one. Zimbabwe went on to lose the match 72-17.

The lad from Saint George’s College attended a judiciary hearing with team manager Shaun De Souza on Tuesday charged with dangerous play. He pleaded guilty to the offence and the presiding officers decided that for his actions he should play no further part at the Craven Week. That means the 18-year old misses Zimbabwe’s last two matches, starting with the fixture against Eastern Province on Thursday and the international contest with Namibia on Saturday.

Bunu will be able to play for his school though when he returns home. 

Meanwhile, the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and Coca-Cola Academy Week players were treated to a special motivational talk on Wednesday by the Springbok, Springbok Sevens and Junior Springbok coaches in a memorable evening at the SA Rugby Youth Weeks.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell and Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux took time out of their busy schedules to talk to the players about what it requires to reach the pinnacle of the sport after keeping an eye on the action at St Stithians College earlier in the day.

A press release from the South African Rugby Union stated that all the three coaches emphasised the importance of hard work and commitment to the cause to progress through the national structures and wished the players luck for their remaining matches.

@Mdawini_29