Ex-Ireland youth star Houston cleared to play for Zimbabwe in WC qualifiers

vimbayi makwavarara
Jul 11
1 min read

ENOCK MUCHINJO IN KAMPALA

Former Ireland youth international Bruce Houston has been cleared to play for Zimbabwe in the last two World Cup qualifiers in Kampala, beginning with a semi-final showdown against Kenya on Sunday.

Born in Northern Ireland, the 25-year-old flyhalf qualifies for the Sables through his Zimbabwean-born mother.

“Bruce was always in our official 28-man squad for these qualifiers, it’s just that his club hadn’t released him, and he only arrived here in Kampala yesterday (Thursday),” a Zimbabwe team official said on Friday afternoon.

Houston, who can also comfortably play at fullback and centre, joined his new Zimbabwe teammates on Friday morning for his first practice session with the Sables in the Ugandan capital.

Bruce Houston scored 277 points in 46 appearances for Cornish Pirates.

In the flyhalf position, Houston will provide back-up to the Sables' star number 10 Ian Prior, who pulled the strings masterfully by pilling 23 points in a 100 percent goal-kicking record as Zimbabwe opened their campaign with a 43-8 victory over Morocco on Tuesday.

Lenience Tambwera, another seasoned flyhalf, is also part of the Zimbabwe squad.

At the end of last season, Houston left English Championship club Cornish Pirates, where he teamed up with Zimbabwe winger Matt McNab.

McNab, who too moved away from the Cornwall club to join the Doncaster Knights in the same league, is also with the Zimbabwe team in Kampala but didn’t feature in the opening tie against the Moroccans.

Houston, who scored 277 points in 46 games for Cornish Pirates, is transferring to French third tier side Union Sportive Bressane on a two-year deal.

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