This past Saturday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Sable Lager Grid Cup, a fresh and exciting rugby tournament featuring four specially drafted teams: Impis, Ngunis, Valley Blades, and Sun Rays. The event is a collaborative effort between Zimbabwe Rugby Union, Kyros Sports, and Harare Rugby, and it’s already proving to be a game-changer for local rugby.

I watched the clash between Valley Blades (my team of choice!) and the Ngunis, and what a match it was. To highlight the calibre of talent on display, Hilton Mudariki, captain of the Zimbabwe national team, led the Valley Blades, while Aiden Burnett, the national vice captain, skippered the Ngunis. That’s like watching a masterclass in motion.

For those less familiar with rugby, each team is made up of forwards (positions 1–8), typically the bigger, stronger players who specialize in physical contests like scrums and rucks; and backs (positions 9–15), the faster, more agile players who exploit space and score tries. The Ngunis’ forwards dominated early, wearing down the Blades with relentless physicality. Once the Blades were fatigued, the Ngunis’ backs pounced, slicing through gaps with speed and precision.

Still, the Valley Blades showed immense heart, clawing back from a daunting 19–40 deficit to lead 50–47. Just when we thought the comeback was complete, Tinashe Mutume of the Ngunis dashed through in the final minute to seal a dramatic 52–50 victory. The crowd erupted, rightfully so. That kind of pace and technique deserves every cheer.
It was a thrilling start to the tournament, and if you’re keen to experience it yourself, you’re in luck. The next fixtures kick off at 12:30 and 14:30 next Saturday, and trust me, you won’t want to miss them.