More than fifteen years ago, Hilton Mudariki was on a mission to see how far he could go. A talented schoolboy rugby player in South Africa, he grew up rooting for the Springboks, dreaming of one day wearing the green and gold. At the age of 19, he found himself among the country’s brightest prospects in the final stages of the U20 trials. One by one, other hopefuls were sent home, but Mudariki continued to make the cut. Then came the passport application.
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“They were like, ‘Dude, what are you doing? Like, you obviously don’t qualify.’ South Africa in 2012 and the guys that came out of that team – Steven Kitshoff to name one.”
Mudariki had to be patient as former teammates and schoolmates played Super Rugby, achieved international accolades and, in Kitshoff’s case, won the Rugby World Cup. After three failed attempts to qualify, Zimbabwe they finally return to the top of rugby in 2027, with Mudariki at the helm. As the Sables prepare for their first Rugby World Cup since 1991, Mudariki is all too aware of what this could mean for his country and for a new generation of fans.
“The best thing for me is just walking around Harare and seeing little kids wearing Sables rugby jerseys, whereas before that, you might find a kid wearing an All Black jersey or a Springbok jersey because they didn’t have anything to relate to or look up to. Through what we did in the Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers, we’ve now qualified for the youth 10-year-old hope.”
The Sables captain has been candid about how close he came to quitting the national team after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. After months of grueling training, which Mudariki describes as perfect preparation, the team collapsed and the then 30-year-old felt as if his dream of playing at the World Cup was gone forever.
“It really took a lot out of me. And I almost, I just said to myself, listen, I think this is it. It’s never going to happen again. If it doesn’t happen now, it sure as hell won’t.”
A year later, a conversation with new head coach Pieter “Piet” Benade convinced Mudariki not to give up on his dream.
“Piet came as the head coach, called me for a meeting, sat me down and explained his vision and what he wanted to do and how he thought I could contribute to it. After a few conversations, I just thought to myself, let’s give it another shot, but we’re going to do it year by year.”
Zimbabwe’s remarkable success over the past few years means there are some younger members of the team who just know what it feels like to be part of a winning Sables team.
What followed was a period of unprecedented success for Zimbabwean rugby. In 2024, they defeated continental rivals Namibia for the first time in over 20 years on their way to winning the country’s first African Rugby Cup since 2012. There was a sense that the team was building towards something none of them had ever experienced before.
“I was like, ‘You know what, why don’t I just give it another try?’ Then comes 2025, with the final (Rugby Africa Cup) against Namibia. Family in the stands. We’re taking it for two points. Looking back now, I am so grateful to Piet for convincing me to stay there, for sharing his vision with me and getting me involved because I probably would have regretted stepping down.”
The country’s remarkable success over the last few years means there are some younger members of the team who just know what it feels like to be part of a winning Sables team. Mudariki mentions the likes of center Dion Khumalo and electric winger Eddie Sigauke, who graduated from a successful U20 team to a title-winning senior group. Youngsters like Sigauke may not have experienced the tough years themselves, but they are still clearly aware of how lucky they are to be in a team environment like this.
“I would have loved to watch some of the Zimbabwean legends play. I didn’t get that opportunity because they weren’t necessarily on the big stage. Now I’m happy we got to do it. We’re literally doing it for a 6-year-old, 7-year-old who looks at Edward and thinks, I want to be Sable when I grow up.”
Sigauke made headlines when he signed with Harlequins in August, just after some impressive displays for his country in July’s Cup of Nations matches. He is yet to compete for his new side but is already making a name for himself with two tries in the friendly win Edinburgh and a brilliant solo effort in Harlequins ‘Jesters’ win Leicester Tigers U23. While Quins fans want to see the Transporter cut loose, Sigauke is busy working on the unglamorous aspects of his game and relishing the opportunity to work in an elite club environment.
Most of the time we get away with having Eddie (Sigauke) making something out of nothing, but the further you go, the more you need to earn those moments.
Hilton Mudariki
“It’s a real honor and a privilege (to sign for Harlequins) but, at the same time, I’m here to compete and do my best. It’s an exciting time. I can’t wait for the World Cup to come because I feel I’ll be a much better player than I am now.”
As with most Tier Two nations, Zimbabwean stars are few and far between in the world’s top leagues. At 22, Sigauke wants to carry his country’s torch in England. Further, Tinotenda Mavesere gained vital URC experience with Sharks which he hopes will pay dividends on the international stage. After making his international debut in 2019, Mavesere captained Zimbabwe for the first time in July, stepping in after Mudariki suffered an injury. The 28-year-old is looking to build on the positive results from those matches, which ended in competitive defeats against Tonga, USA and Canada.
“We had a lot of moments in the games where we dominated them. We had a lot of moments in the game where our plan worked, but I think we need more detail in our structure. We need to be more structured because the more you progress, the more you need to act as a team and less as individuals. Mostly we get away with Eddie (Siga) which means more than that, but I don’t need to earn those moments anymore.”
For Zimbabwe, players with Mavesere’s experience are invaluable. With limited time spent together internationally, players accustomed to the demands of elite club rugby can help raise standards across the squad. Sigauke is also heading that way, and there could be more to come, especially if the players impress during Nations Cup games.
The team will have another chance to show their improvement this month, with Cup of Nations matches against Samoa, Uruguay and Chile. Both Mudariki and Mavesere stress the importance of these games for the team’s development a year after their country’s first ever World Cup. Their short-term focus is on those matches, but Mudariki allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to lead his country on the world stage.
“We want to put on a show. We want to be a team of people… We want to be noticed and it will be great for people to see what rugby is all about in Zimbabwe.”
“We want to put on a show. We want to be a team of people… We want to be noticed and it will be great for people to see what rugby is all about in Zimbabwe.”
Road to Australia it started years ago, but his latest stretch begins on Saturday against Samoa. For those unfamiliar with the Sables, November offers a chance to discover a team determined to make up for lost time and promising fun along the way. And when the ball finds its way to Eddie Sigauke’s wing, spectators would do well to heed the same advice as those trying to tackle him. Don’t blink.