Rugby is back at the National Sports Stadium. On Saturday 24 October, Zimbabwe's Sables host Namibia in Harare, with kick off at 3PM, and New Zimbabwe describes it as the return of rugby to the recently renovated ground. For a team that waited from 1991 to qualify for another World Cup, a home Test against a familiar regional rival is a good measure of where things stand.
Why this match matters
The fixture is not part of a tournament. New Zimbabwe reports that it is a preparation match for the Sables' November tour of Europe, where they play Samoa on 7 November, Uruguay on 14 November and Chile on 21 November, the last of those in France.
The history gives it an edge. According to the Herald, Zimbabwe had not beaten Namibia since 2001 until they did it in the semi-final of the Rugby Africa Cup, ending a losing run of 23 years. In July 2025 the two met again, this time in the final in Kampala. World Rugby's report on that match says the sides were level at 16-16 at half-time, that Zimbabwe built a lead in the second half, and that Namibia closed it to a two-point game with ten minutes left. The Sables held on, successfully defended their continental title and booked a place at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, their first since 1991.
After that match, second-row Godfrey Muzanargwo said the Sables did not want to go to the World Cup "just to be there." Saturday is a chance to show how far that ambition has moved on, in front of a home crowd.
What has changed in the camp
The Sables have added to their coaching staff this month. Zimbabwe Rugby said on 15 October that Ricky Pellow had joined as backs and attack coach, and that Laurie Fisher had come in on a short-term consultancy basis to support the squad. The Namibia Test is the first real look at what that input looks like on the pitch.
Tickets and getting in
Zimbabwe Rugby Union has kept prices low. New Zimbabwe lists rest of ground tickets at US$1, grand stand at US$3 and VIP at US$50. At US$1, it is hard to find a cheaper day out in Harare this weekend, and New Zimbabwe expects the pricing and the venue to draw a sizeable crowd.
Four ways to watch
If you cannot make it to the ground, Zimbabwe Rugby has published four ways to watch live:
- ZBC channel on DStv.
- Kyros Sports, streaming on the official Zim Rugby YouTube page, @ZimRugby.
- The Sports AI app.
- RugbyPass TV.
The streaming options are the most useful for supporters outside Zimbabwe, since a YouTube stream and an app-based option mean they can follow the Sables without needing DStv.
What to watch for
A few things are worth keeping an eye on. How the Sables use their backs under Pellow is the obvious one. Namibia's response to losing both the semi-final and the final to Zimbabwe in the Rugby Africa Cup is another. And with the Europe tour starting on 7 November, it is a useful dress rehearsal.
Whatever the result, it is a chance to watch the national side at home, at a stadium that has just reopened its gates to rugby.
Sources
Researched and drafted with the help of AI tools, then fact-checked and edited by our team. How we work.
