Former rugby stalwart, Stanley Mwatunga, was recently appointed new chairman of the first Manicaland Rugby Referees Society.

The society will steer the setting up of structures to train rugby referees in the province and grow the sport.

World Rugby Zimbabwe educator, Walter Njowa, was there to oversee the elections.

Elected vice-chairman was Willard Chibururu, secretary, Patience Tsamphwayi, treasurer, Peter Sam, convener of assessors, Brandon Chombo, appointing secretaries, Casper Bandi and Gideon Muyambo as well as committee members, Michael Ngwarai, Tererai Matibiri and Mackenzie Munetsi.

Njowa who has been conducting refereeing short courses in different provinces countrywide, said the drive was to ensure there were certified referees in every province in the country.

Already Mutare has five referees who made their maiden appearance at the just-ended Dairiboard Schools Rugby Festival.

The five, Bandi, Muyambo, Tsamphwapayi, Ngwarai and Sam participated in the touch judging course held at Mutare Sports Club early this year. They will soon be completing their Level One training to become certified referees.

 “As members of the main board the drive is to ensure that we have certified referees in every province and in every district in the long run. This will help cut transport costs for schools and clubs that often invite qualified referees from Harare or Bulawayo,” Njowa said.

Mwatunga said he was eager to drive the society.

The Hillcrest coach said schools would be their biggest drive.

“Sports teachers will be a good starting point as they are already involved in sport. I am confident we will meet our target to have qualified referees in every district as we work in collaboration with the provincial board to promote the sport,” said Mwatunga.

He said rugby was growing with rules changing now and then, a reason why training and certification was important for referees.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Zimbabwe Rugby Union president, Nyararai Sibanda and his deputy for the Northern Region, Noddy Kanyangarara have vowed to revive the past glory days of national rugby action in Manicaland.

Manicaland falls under Northern Region and will be under Kanyangarara’s authority.

Also elected at the union’s Annual General Meeting held recently was Southern Region vice-president, Tapiwa Mangezi.

Sibanda who was vice-president since 2012 will now get an opportunity to steer the country’s rugby board, replacing John Falkenberg.

He said his drive would be to spread the sport to all the corners of the country by strengthening provincial structures.