The cream of Zimbabwe's young rugby talent is making a beeline for South Africa with the Western Province alone accounting for almost half a team of Zimbabwean players in their squad for 2017.

The Prince Edward trio of fullback Tanaka Mutembedza and locks Tonderai Chiwambutsa and Godfrey Muzanargwo have been added to the list released by the Western Province Rugby Academy (WPRA) as their squad for the upcoming season.

St John's loose forwards Sam Garnett and Desmond Annandale were the first to be targeted by WPRA during the Zimbabwe Under-19 tour of Namibia in August this year for the Junior Africa Cup competition.

Mutembedza also signed up for Western Province on the sidelines of that tournament before the Currie Cup side, one of the most powerful rugby teams in South Africa, confirmed their interest in his schoolmates later after Zimbabwe's departure.

The quintet from PE and St John's will beef up a previously small contingent of Zimabweans already blazing a trail at  WPRA, who include Young Sables captain Sam Phiri, a former Falcon College student, and his club and international teammate Aiden Burnett, who also went to St John's.

Burnett, who scored a brilliant try for Zimbabwe during the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy staged in Harare earlier this year, has since been loaned to English side Gloucester RFC.
"Our 2017 group is taking shape with players from all over the SA and overseas committed to make WP their choice to continue developing their potential,'' the Western Province Rugby Academy posted on their website.

It added: "Another exciting year beckons with some new innovations (and) interesting training techniques linked to our High Performance Rugby Programme. There are still two spots left with some exciting participants (expected)."

Prince Edward sports director Tawanda Jimu said he was still to reconcile statistics over which rugby players had left the school or had remained.

"Apart from Mutembedza who completed his A Level studies this year and is reportedly moving to Western Province, I do not have the other statistics,'' he said.

Muzanargwo, a boarder at the school's Shashi hostel, was still at school when Suburban visited, winding up his Lower Sixth classes. His form mate Chiwambutsa had left for home after his day studies.

St John's College have been more forthcoming after confirming Garnett's and  Annandale's breakthrough.

"Congratulations . . .on your selection and invitation to join Western Province Rugby Academy next year. Very proud of both of you. We wish you all the best Sam and Desmond know you will do us all and Saint John's College proud!", read the school's Facebook page.

A PE rugby coach who declined to sign his name also gave away Chiwambutsa's departure on the social media.

"Tonde has aligned himself with WP Rugby for 2017. The Academy will give him the exposure and foundation to launch himself into the realm of professional rugby. He is an exciting young utility forward,'' he wrote, and went on:

"Having represented his country Zimbabwe at Under 19 and Under 20 levels he is comfortable at lock and as a loose forward. His lanky frame coupled with his athletic ability could be the perfect recipe for success once he starts working with the coaches at the WP Rugby Academy."

On Mutembedza, the coach surmised:

"Zimbabwe schools rugby 7's star Tanaka Mutembedza of Prince Edward School, Zimbabwe adds his attacking flair to an already star-studded group looking to cut open defences and make a big impact on the WP rugby scene in 2017.''

The move to Western Province for the Young Sables quintet will not be a stroll in the park as they suddenly shift to the high-performance stage. The WP Rugby Academy will be hosting the German National 7's team in early February next year, and is later scheduled to tour Georgia and England for a series of top-notch matches.