Zimbabwe national rugby team sleep on the streets in Tunisia

Rugby’s world governing body has intervened after Zimbabwe’s national team were forced to sleep on the street in Tunisia after problems with accommodation and visas.

World Rugby tweeted “we are aware of an issue regarding the Zimbabwe team before their Rugby Africa Gold Cup match on Saturday.

“We have received firm assurances from Rugby Africa that the issue has been quickly and effectively resolved”.

Zimbabwe’s rugby team, nicknamed the Sables, are in Tunisia for a test match in Beja that forms part of the 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Sables landed in the North African country on Monday night directly from Kenya, where they lost 45-36.

The team were initially delayed for hours at the airport in Tunis because they did not have the required €600 (Dh2,565) to pay for visas, then later declined to check in to a hotel the squad deemed sub-standard. Players slept outside the same hotel.

In a joint statement, Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union said they “would like to express their sincere apologies to the Sables [Zimbabwe] team and management for this unfortunate situation ... we would like to reassure the Zimbabwean Ministry of Sports, Zimbabwe Rugby Union and all partners and fans that the situation was addressed immediately, and an acceptable solution has been found. Tunisia Rugby Union took the Sables management to visit another hotel, which was accepted.”

The Rugby Africa Gold Cup is the continent’s premier Test rugby competition and the winner this year will automatically qualify for the World Cup in Japan next year.

This year, Zimbabwe hired former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers with the aim of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1991. Zimbabwe drew 23-23 with Morocco at home before losing to Kenya.

Many in Zimbabwe, including former sports minister David Coltart, have accused Tunisian authorities of trying to unsettle the Sables before Saturday’s match.

But the Zimbabwe Rugby Union has also faced criticism. It was accused of failing to pay player match fees and allowances, with loose forward Takudzwa Mandiwanza allegedly being heard to claim in a leaked audio recording that De Villiers had to use personal funds to buy the team a meal while they were stranded.

Gerald Mlotswa, head of the national team’s welfare committee, disputed the player’s reported claims.

“I hope that it was just the pure frustration of the situation in Tunisia that promoted his outburst in relation to allowances, and nothing else,” Mr Mlotswa said on Wednesday.

“The fact is that players are paid in arrears, like most people. The camp allowances and match fees from the Kenya game were paid on Monday. The camp fees and allowances for Tunisia will be paid the following Monday. It’s that simple.”

Six African countries – Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya and Uganda – remain in the qualifying picture for the World Cup in Japan.

Namibia are firm favourites to progress automatically after winning their first three matches, including a 118-0 win over Tunisia.

The team were initially delayed for hours at the airport in Tunis because they did not have the required €600 for visas