RUGBY players from Matabeleland schools aspiring to represent the country at the annual Coca-Cola Youth Weeks in South Africa have to first impress their provincial selectors during trials to be held at Hartsfield and Christian Brothers College on Saturday.

Trials for the Under-14 are scheduled for CBC while those for the Under-17 and Under-19 are set for Hartsfield. From those, the provincial selectors will choose squad to represent the province in the national trials to be staged on 26 and 27 May in Esigodini and Harare. Falcon College is the venue of the Under-14 trials while Gateway is the venue for the Under-17 and Under-19 assessments.

Reginald Querl, the Falcon College headmaster said the trials present the youngsters with an opportunity to launch their careers. Querl, who is also the headmaster in charge of schools rugby in Zimbabwe, described Saturday’s fixtures as a chance for the public, parents and boys to put up their best performances.

“The provincial trials are the beginning of young’s rugby journeys to career options. Hartsfield has played its part in many people’s rugby careers and the schools provincial trials are always a fiercely competitive set of rugby games,’’ said Querl.

In the Under-19 fixtures lined up, Western Suburbs Select Two clash with Gifford, Petra meet Western Suburbs Select One, Milton take on Plumtree while the main encounter of the day sees powerhouses in the province, Falcon College taking on CBC.

Falcon College went down 24-14 to Prince Edward at home last Saturday while CBC were beaten 65-15 by Saint George’s College in Harare on the same day.

Because of the schools trials, the Intercity Rugby League clash between Bulldogs and Old Georgians will be played on the Hartsfield B-field. The youngsters will however be done on the main pitch for the massive fixture between Matabeleland Warriors and Harare Sports Club.

@Mdawini_29