The South African neighbours, Zimbabwe’s Sables, will face a daunting challenge at the Rugby World Cup 2027.
Many observers consider Zimbabwe to be in one of the tournament’s most competitive pools.
Organisers have scheduled the global showpiece for 1 October to 13 November 2027 in Australia. This marks the Sables’ long-awaited return to the world stage.
Rugby World Cup: Group of giants awaits the Sables
Zimbabwe have been drawn into Group F, where they will come up against former world champions England, European powerhouse Wales and a physical Tonga side known for its bruising style of play.
Many observers consider the group one of the toughest, placing the Sables in a high-pressure environment that will test their depth, discipline and resilience.
Match schedule announcement next year
The next key milestone in the World Cup build-up comes on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
By then, organisers will have released the official match schedule.
This will confirm venues and dates, allowing teams, and fans, to begin their detailed preparations.
Historic return to Rugby World Cup for Zimbabwe
The 2027 edition will be particularly symbolic for Zimbabwe, who are making their first Rugby World Cup appearance since 1992.
Their qualification has already sparked excitement among local supporters. The Sables fans have optimism about the future of the game in the country.
Rugby analysts say the Sables’ return alone represents significant progress. They add that the challenging pool offers a valuable opportunity to compete against some of the sport’s biggest names.
