Rugby action in Zambia poised to resume

Rugby in Zambia is poised to resume, the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) announced on Wednesday.

ZRU Director of rugby Noble Sinkamba in an online meeting with other executive and secretariat members said the union had earlier written to the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) indicating their intentions to resume.

After a thorough review by NSCZ, a letter of recommendation was sent to the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Health requesting them to conduct inspections to of training venues and facilities.

Sinkamba said: ”A few months ago, the Zambia Rugby Union in collaboration with Rugby Africa moved across the country visiting clubs distributing Personal Protective Equipment and foodstuffs.

“This was in an effort to give our players some aid during the Covid19 pandemic lockdown which has affected most sectors of the economy including sports.”

Sinkamba said clubs may only return to training with minimal numbers while avoiding contact once permission from relevant authorities was granted.

He further added that when the inspectors from the Ministry of Health have finalised their activities in Lusaka-based clubs they will proceed to the central, Copperbelt and North Western Provinces in the next few days to conduct similar inspections.

The ZRU said it “is undertaking the Return to Play protocols as prescribed by World Rugby while not forgetting those required by local authorities in its quest to ensure compliance.”

To date, Zambia has recorded 13 887 Covid-19 infections, with 12 869 recoveries and 326 deaths.  As of Wednesday, there were 692 active infections.

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo