International Rugby returns to Arusha in Tanzania this week when the hosts will be joined Burundi and Rwanda in the CASTEL REGIONAL TROPHY tournament. This will be the fourth and final Regional Tournament to take place, in March the Niger staged and won the Northern Zone A Section tournament, a fortnight ago Niger claimed the Northern Zone B tournament title while in June, Reunion secured the Southern Zone A section title. The two northern section winners are scheduled to play in the first semi-final in September while the first placed team in the Arusha event is scheduled to take on Reunion.
This will be the second consecutive year that the Tanzanian Rugby Football Union will be hosting the event. Last year the TZRFU under the leadership of their President Tinus Aucamp set a new benchmark in Africa when they put on one of the most successful ever staged on the continent. Following internal problems in Rwanda, the TZRFU was asked by CAR to stage the 2006 version of the event as well. Last year’s tournament featured was featured in a 52 – minute special on Supersport’s Rugby Africa and through massive exposure in the media in Tanzania the game of rugby in East Africa was elevated to a new level according to Aucamp: “ It certainly helps to create a awareness and we receive good coverage in the media, printed and television in the build up to and during the tournament. The other advantage of hosting the tournament again this year is that the public and our critics see that rugby is here to stay and that it is growing as a sport in the country. It also provides comfort to the sponsors as they get exposure on an ongoing basis. “
Burundi and Rwanda are no strangers to Tanzania. In 2004 Tanzania’s first ever-international match was against Burundi followed by the test against Rwanda. Tanzania won both encounters and repeated these victories over their two neighbours in the CASTE REGIONAL Tournament last year. This year Aucamp is expecting a much tougher much from both sides especially the ever-improving Rwanda: “ We played against Rwanda this year at 7’s level and it was quite visible that they improved over the past 12 months. Rwanda is a very physical team to play against and they are one of the hardest tackling sides in the competition and you definitely know the next morning that you played a game of rugby the previous day. In the previous games that we played against them we were on the winning side, but that means really nothing.”
In their build-up to the tournament the Twiggas played a warm-up game against an Ugandan XV which proved to be a very valuable experience for Aucamp and his side. When Tanzania takes on Burundi in Tuesday’s opening match another chapter will be written in the short but very illustrious history of the TZRFU. A record number of 10 nationals have been included in the Tanzanian side which includes four players who have come through the ranks and represented their country at under 18 level. Tanzania’s African Leopard’s player, John Lloyd, is not available for this tournament but will be able to play for Tanzania providing they make it to the next round.
The big incentive for the winners of this tournament is a semi-final against Reunion and according to Aucamp that is exactly what Tanzania are aiming for: “ This is our third year that we play in this competition and our first attempt we came last, beaten by both Botswana and Swaziland. Last year we were runners up to Mauritius so this year the incentive is there to progress to the next round. We were a bit disappointed with the withdrawal of Swaziland from our tournament as we were looking forward to play against them again but we are not going to say no thank you for a game against Reunion. “
On Thursday Burundi take on Rwanda and on Saturday the hosts face Rwanda in the final match of the tournament. All the matches will be staged at the Friedkin Recreation Ground in Arusha.