Thread by @AdamTheofilatos

Last week, I looked at the architects behind Zimbabwe Rugby’s remarkable rise from the wilderness to Rugby World Cup qualification.

Today, the landscape has shifted.

Zimbabwe Rugby has announced a new high-performance and rugby committee structure, featuring a mix of familiar faces and new appointments that will help shape the next chapter of the Sables’ journey.

While some of the thinking behind these changes is still being investigated, and several questions remain unanswered, this is what we know so far: 👇🇿🇼🏉

Firstly, the losses.

Zimbabwe Rugby will unfortunately bid farewell to one of the most experienced figures in the Sables setup.

Amid the uncertainty and behind-the-scenes developments currently unfolding at the ZRU, I am informed that Gert Smal has resigned from his position as Linouts Coach and Consultant.

For Zimbabwean rugby supporters, players and coaches alike, this will be a difficult pill to swallow.

A Rugby World Cup-winning coach with South Africa and one of the most respected minds in the game, Smal brought credibility, experience and world-class standards to the Sables environment. While he rarely sought the spotlight, many within Zimbabwe Rugby viewed him as the steady hand guiding the project from behind the scenes.

In conversations this week, one phrase kept coming up:

“He was the glue that held the team together.”

Replacing a coach of Smal’s calibre was never going to be easy. Replacing his experience, influence and rugby intellect may prove even harder.

The question now is simple:

Who steps forward to fill some very big boots? 👇🏉🇿🇼

One of the most notable additions appears to be former Scotland international and South African-born Josh Strauss.

Strauss joins the Sables setup as Forwards and Lineout Coach, bringing extensive experience from the professional game and a reputation as a highly respected forwards specialist.

However, he is not a direct replacement for Gert Smal. From what I understand, the Technical Advisor/Consultant role has effectively been removed from the new structure.

That means Zimbabwe may potentially lose some of the strategic oversight, mentorship and rugby intellect that Smal brought behind the scenes. But there can be little doubt about Strauss’ credentials as a lineout and forwards coach.

The Sables gain a proven rugby mind — the question is whether anyone can truly replace everything Gert Smal brought to the table.

Another new face is Vlok Cilliers, who joins the Sables as Kicking Consultant — a newly created role within the Zimbabwe setup.

A former Springbok fly-half with 27 Test caps, Cilliers has gone on to build an impressive coaching career, becoming one of the most respected kicking and skills specialists in the game. His coaching résumé includes roles with the Springboks, Lions, Sharks, Cheetahs and numerous elite players across South African rugby.

Given the importance of goal-kicking, tactical kicking and territory in modern rugby, this feels like a welcome addition for a Zimbabwe side preparing for the demands of World Cup rugby.

His expertise should also prove invaluable to Ian Prior, who already possesses one of the strongest tactical kicking games in African rugby. Working alongside a specialist of Cilliers’ calibre could help refine the finer details of Prior’s game, from game management and territorial control to goal-kicking consistency in high-pressure moments.

His appointment brings another highly experienced rugby mind into the Sables environment and reinforces Zimbabwe Rugby’s commitment to specialist coaching and marginal gains as they prepare for the sport’s biggest stage.

A blast from the past? Grant Mitchell has been appointed Head of Athletic Performance, having been recruited by High Performance Director Liam Middleton following their time together with the Zimbabwe Cheetahs Sevens programme.

Mitchell is no stranger to Zimbabwe Rugby and takes responsibility for the Sables’ strength and conditioning, athletic development and overall physical preparation as the team builds towards the Rugby World Cup.

While coaching appointments often attract the headlines, the impact of high-performance staff is usually measured over time. Mitchell’s arrival forms part of a broader restructuring of the Sables setup, with Zimbabwe Rugby clearly placing an increased emphasis on performance and conditioning ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

How that translates on the field is something supporters will be watching closely.

Among all the changes, the retention of Joel Carew, Ricky Chirengende and Senna Esterhuizen could prove just as important as any new appointment.

With a Rugby World Cup on the horizon, continuity matters. All three have been part of the Sables’ rise, know the players, understand the culture and have helped build the standards that turned Zimbabwe into African champions.

At a time of significant change, their presence provides a valuable link between what has worked and what comes next.

One interesting shift, however, is Senna Esterhuizen’s role. Previously part of the coaching group, he is now officially listed as Analyst.

So what does that change mean for the Sables? 👇

One retention that deserves attention is Senna Esterhuizen.

After serving as the Sables’ defence coach, Esterhuizen now moves into the analytics role.

In modern rugby, information wins games. Opposition tendencies, defensive weaknesses, kicking patterns and tactical trends are all analysed long before kick-off.

Esterhuizen has become one of the key minds behind the scenes, turning data and footage into the insights that shape strategy and preparation.

With so many changes elsewhere in the structure, keeping a rugby brain of his calibre is a major plus for the Sables.

His title may now be Analyst, but don’t underestimate the role. In the professional game, some of the most important decisions start in that chair.

With Senna Esterhuizen now shifting into an analytics role, the obvious question becomes: who takes charge of the Sables’ defence?

I’m reliably informed that Michael Todd is set to take up the position.

The Zimbabwe-born coach is currently based in Edinburgh, where he has been involved in defence coaching within the Edinburgh Rugby pathway.

While Zimbabwe Rugby has yet to make any announcement, all indications are that Todd will join the Sables setup as Defence Coach.

For now, however, that remains a story still unfolding.

More on Michael Todd should and when confirmation arrive. 🇿🇼🏉