- Mudiwa Mundawarara joins Rugby Africa team to evolve rugby on the continent
Rugby Africa has announced the appointment of Mudiwa Mundawarara (pictured left) as it’s new Referee Manager – a newly created position to deliver a key strategic activity pillar driving the expansion of rugby in Africa.
As Referee Manager Mudiwa Mundawarara will lead the implementation of the new Match Official Pathway within Rugby Africa. He has over 30 years of rugby referee experience on the pitch, combined with 28 years on the administrative side. He has served as President of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees’ Society and has been a World Rugby Educator for match officiators for the last decade. He is also a World Rugby-accredited Citing Commissioner.
Khaled Babbou, Rugby Africa’s President (pic right) welcomed the appointment. “We are very happy to strengthen our team. I have no doubt that he will make a significant difference. We are at a tipping point where African Rugby is becoming more visible and to become a serious player on the global stage as well. Fair play is at the heart of our sport and consistent decision-making and refereeing at all levels of the game is necessary to provide for a professional framework for our member unions.”
On his appointment, Mr Mundawarara commented, “I am greatly honoured to have been offered this important role. I have worked with every one of the team members before, and I am really looking forward to working more closely with them all. Over the years, the support of the South African Rugby Union and French Rugby Federation has been tremendous and I am pleased that it will continue with greater emphasis on talent identification, on training and on coaching of referees from the rest of the continent. This will eventually lead to greater opportunities for them through selection processes drawn from the strengthened development cohorts.”