ZIMBABWE Sables stars Brandon Mudzekenyedzi and Dylan Utete have broken into the Korean Super Rugby League after they signed deals with OKMan Rugby Club.
This comes after the Zimbabwe senior men national team's successful tour to South Korea in November last year where they beat the hosts 27-22 in the first-ever meeting between the two nations in Seoul.
The Sables, who had won the Africa Cup without tasting defeat earlier in the year, also beat the United Arab Emirates to close 2024 with a 100% win record.
Mudzekenyedzi, who has previously featured for clubs in New Zealand and Romania, is not new to Asian rugby after spending three years at Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan on a scholarship.
He was scheduled to make his highly-anticipated debut for his new team as a winger yesterday, with Utete expected to provide crucial support from the back row as a replacement.
Okman Rugby Club, established in 2023, is rapidly gaining prominence in the Korean premiership.
The addition of Mudzekenyedzi and Utete, alongside established South Korean national team players like Kim Sang-jin and Yoo Jae-hoon, significantly strengthens their competitive edge.
The influx of African talent is a testament to the quality of players produced by the Africa Cup champions.
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Zimbabwean team manager Takunda Chifokoyo attributes this remarkable achievement to the Sables' successful end-of-year tour in South Korea and expects to see more doors opening for other players.
"Our time in Korea fostered a strong relationship between our two countries. Our hosts were deeply impressed by our players, leading to the exciting opportunity for Brendon and Dylan to join Okman as overseas professionals. This is a direct result of their outstanding performance in the Africa Cup." he told the Zimbabwe Rugby Union media.
"2024 was a landmark year for Zimbabwean rugby and we anticipate more international teams offering our players opportunities in competitive professional leagues. This further demonstrates that the Africa Cup champions are indeed among the best in the world," he said.
The Sables have stepped up preparations for World Rugby Qualification at the Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda this July, where they go as tournament favourites.
