WHILE most Zimbabwean rugby players aspire to secure good deals from South African franchises, universities as well as academies when they come to the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, Junior Sables skipper Jack Charsley has no such wishes. 

The Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week captain has his eyes set on playing for the senior Sables as soon as he can. Speaking to the media after his team lost all the three matches they played at the annual schoolboy rugby tournament, Charsley, an upper six student at Falcon College in Esigodini declared his intention to stay put in Zimbabwe for an apprenticeship when he concludes his high school and then turn out for the Sables.

“My plan is to do an apprenticeship in Zimbabwe so I am hoping to join the Sables as soon as I can, I will be around in Zimbabwe,’’ said Charsley.

Further probing revealed that Charsley, a prefect and head of George Gray House at Falcon College wants to be a trainee diesel plant fitter, most probably in Bulawayo where his family is based. 

Zimbabwean rugby players are constantly being poached by South African schools and Charsley’s commitment to playing for the Sables in future must come as great joy to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union leadership which has grappled with talent being lost to other countries. Some of the players who have left Zimbabwe after representing the country at the Craven Week have not made themselves available for the Sables.

Charsley must have drawn inspiration from former Falcon College captain Connor Pritchard who in 2016 graduated to playing for the Sables having led the Zimbabwe Under-20 during the same year. Pritchard has established himself in the senior team and started at open side flank for the Sables against Kenya in their Rugby Africa Gold Cup fixture at Hartsfield on Saturday which the Kenyans won 41-22.

The 18-year old Charsley without doubt impressed scouts which kept a close eye on the Zimbabwean lads throughout the week at St Stithians College. A flanker blessed with immense ball carrying skills, Charsley was one of the few outstanding players for Zimbabwe during a disappointing Craven Week where they lost all the three matches they played.

On the three defeats they endured at the Craven Week, Charsley felt that as the captain he did not guide the team the way he should have which is something that is pulling him down with the hope of getting over the disappointing outing.

“Especially as the captain it makes me feel as though I haven’t done my job correctly, I haven’t led the boys correctly which is weight on my shoulders which I will have to overcome,’’ he said.

Charsley is convinced that they have taken some positives from the Craven Week with the players having learnt a lot about the game.

“At the team’s point of view I think a lot of people have learnt quite a few lessons, like they always say it’s not about winning all the time, a loss does teach you a lot of things. Although we didn’t want three losses it’s happened and people have learnt from it,’’ Charsley said.

Zimbabwe lost 72-17 to Leopards, 34-14 to Eastern Province Country Districts and 45-21 against Namibia to end the Craven Week without tasting victory. Their poor record now stands at just one win in 12 matches at the annual schoolboy rugby fiesta since 2014. Their only triumph in those four years came last year against Griquas Country Districts who they beat 16-9 at Kearsney College in Durban.

@Mdawini_29