The Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) will host the Nchanga 15s National Tournament today, Saturday, April 4th, at Nchanga Rugby Club in Chingola.
The annual competition will feature a lineup of men’s teams, including Konkola, Kansanshi, Eagles, KPF, Buffaloes, Nchanga, Mufulira, Ndola, Roan, Nkwazi, Arrows, Diggers, and Chibuluma.
In an interview with Lusaka Star,Nchanga 15s Tournament Organising Committee Chairperson Owen Mhango commended Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) for contributing 15 thousand kwacha towards the successful staging of the tournament.
He explained that the men’s competition will be played in the traditional 15-a-side format, while the women’s teams will compete in a 10-a-side version.
“We have been consistent in hosting this annual tournament, and it remains a key fixture on the ZRU calendar,” Mhango said.
He has since called on rugby fans to turn up in large numbers and enjoy a full day of competitive action.
Meanwhile, Red Arrows Rugby player Lydia Mwale described the tournament as a traditional season opener, often used by teams to assess their readiness.
“This tournament is important for our structure as it helps teams gauge their performance ahead of the season,” Mwale said.
And a Rugby fan, Florence Tembo, noted that while the tournament historically attracted high attendance between 1995 and 2008, numbers declined over the past decade due to economic challenges.
“However, we are optimistic that attendance will improve this year, given the positive outlook of the economy,” she said.
The women’s category will see participation from Diggers, Arrows, Eagles, Konkola, Buffaloes, Kansanshi, and Leopardess.