1980s and 1990s - The Golden Generation

In 1980, the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union was renamed the Zimbabwe Rugby Union, reflecting the end of white minority rule in Zimbabwe, and the beginning of the new state. Previously, the Rhodesia side was exclusively all-white, in contrast to the East Africa Tuskers which had been integrated. However, the new Zimbabwe side was instead integrated, including both black and white players. A tour to England was undertaken that year playing six matches, the first against Surrey at Twickenham and one of the others being against Gloucestershire at Kingsholm on 1 October.^[5] That same year, the ZRU severed all its ties to the South African Rugby Board due to mounting pressure to boycott the apartheid regime; while Zimbabwe gained international acceptance as a rugby side, they no longer had teams in the Currie Cup and other South African competitions.

They played their first international game as Zimbabwe on 7 July 1981 against Kenya, winning 34 to 24. Throughout the 1980s, Zimbabwe played a variety of opponents and enjoyed a decent amount of success, defeating opponents such as Spain and the Soviet Union; in the victory over the Soviet Union, history was made as Richard Tsimba became the first black player for Zimbabwe. In 1987, Zimbabwe was invited to partake in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup to represent the African continent, instead of South Africa, who were under sanction due to apartheid; unfortunately, the Sables lost all 3 of their matches, although came on the verge of upsetting Romania (losing by 1 point), a game which featured a two try performance by Richard Tsimba. The following year in 1988, Zimbabwe became one of the charter members of Rugby Africa, alongside the Ivory Coast, Morocco and Tunisia.

In 1990, Zimbabwe participated in the first Rugby World Cup qualifying competition for the African continent. The team topped a group consisting of the Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Tunisia, qualifying for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. However, unfortunately for the Sables, they lost all their 3 matches to Ireland, Japan, and Scotland by fairly large margins. After this World many players from Zimbabwe's "Golden Generation" retired. Namibia and later Kenya entered the scene, challenging the original four charter members of Rugby Africa, and the slow deterioration of the Zimbabwean economy in the 1990s and into the 2000s caused many rugby players (both black and white) to leave the country for opportunities elsewhere.^{[citation needed]} An example of this is Kennedy Tsimba, who initially played as a Zimbabwe international, but later switched to South Africa due to the political and economic situation.^[6]

Zimbabwe finished last in the round robin for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and finished third in the 1999 qualifying round robin.

2000s - Decline

The Sables began the decade in poor form, losing all four of their matches in the 2000 Africa Cup, against Namibia and a South African Amateur XV; the team narrowly improved in the following edition in 2001, being able to defeat Namibia once by the score of 27 to 26. In the penultimate 2002 edition, Zimbabwe played a close and tense game against Namibia in Harare, but ultimately lost 30 to 42, failing to qualify for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

As the decade continued, Zimbabwe slowly faded from the African rugby scene; the 2004 campaign was disastrous, as Zimbabwe lost to Madagascar for the first time, and were later thrashed by Namibia. The 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign was also a disaster, with Zimbabwe losing to Zambia, an opponent they had traditionally dominated. By 2008, the Sables hit rock bottom, losing in the first round of the qualifying for the 2011 World Cup.

2010s - Revival

The 2010s began with hope for Zimbabwe. The Sables won the Africa Cup for the first time in 2010, beating Botswana and Madagascar. The following year, after a reform of the Africa Cup divisions, Zimbabwe were placed in Group 1B, alongside familiar foes the Ivory Coast and Madagascar and Uganda. Zimbabwe won the division, defeating both Madagascar and Uganda.

As with many other sports, over the years, numerous talented young Zimbabwean rugby players have emigrated to play for other nations, mainly South Africa but also Australia, Scotland and other European countries. This trend has continued with players being attracted abroad by better playing and coaching facilities, as well as being pushed by the ever-declining economic climate in their country of origin.

Notable players

Over the years, Zimbabwe have lost much of their rugby talent to other countries. The list of Zimbabwean players who have left to ply their trade elsewhere includes:

• Don Armand - England, Stormers & Exeter Chiefs flanker
• Tonderai Chavhanga - Springbok, Stormers, Sharks, Lions & Newport Dragons winger. Scored a record 6 tries on international debut for South Africa
• Lovejoy Chawatama - London Irish prop
• David Curtis - Ireland centre, father of Angus Curtis
• Angus Curtis - Ulster & Irish U20 flyhalf/centre
• David Denton - Scotland, Edinburgh, Bath, Worcester & Leicester Tigers flanker/eighthman
• Pieter Dixon - Bath & Stormers hooker
• Thom Evans - Glasgow Warriors, London Wasps & Scotland winger/fullback. Cousin of Kai Horstmann
• Dave Ewers - Exeter Chiefs flanker
• Adrian Garvey - Springbok prop, also represented Zimbabwe
• Kyle Godwin - Wallaby, Western Force, Brumbies & Connacht centre
• Scott Gray - Scotland, Bath & Northampton flanker
• Kai Horstmann - England 7's, Worcester, Harlequins & Exeter Chiefs flanker/eighthman. Cousin of Thom Evans
• Marco Mama - Bristol, Worcester Captain & Zimbabwe U20 flanker/eighthman
• Andy Marinos - Wales centre, CEO of SANZAAR & Rugby Australia
• Nils Mordt - Saracens, London Irish, Harlequins, Northampton Saints & England 7s. Nephew of Ray Mordt.
• Ray Mordt - Springbok winger who was the first Springbok to score a hatrick of tries against the All Blacks. Uncle of Nils Mordt
• Tendai Mtawarira - Springbok & Sharks & 2019 Rugby World Cup winning prop
• Brian Mujati - Springbok, Sale Sharks, Racing 92, Ospreys, Stormers & Lions prop
• Sebastian Negri - Italy & Benetton Treviso flanker
• Takudzwa Ngwenya - USA & Biarritz winger, who famously scored the try of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, rounding Bryan Habana in the process
• David Pocock - Wallaby captain, Western Force & Brumbies flanker/eighthman. 3x nominated for Rugby Player of the year.
• Bobby Skinstad - Springbok Captain, Sharks, Stormers & Lions & eighthman who won the 2007 World Cup
• David Smith - Springbok centre
• Eli Snyman - Leicester Tigers, Blue Bulls, Benetton Treviso & Springbok U20 lock
• Gary Teichmann - Springbok Captain & eighthman
• Des van Jaarsveldt - Springboks and Rhodesia captain
• Mike Williams - Leicester, Worcester & Bath lock/flanker

Former Saracens CEO, Bath Chairman & SA Rugby CEO (whilst triumphant in the 1995 World Cup), Edward Griffiths was born in Zimbabwe.

Other players of Zimbabwean origin include All Black centre Braydon Ennor, Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje and Japan winger Kotaro Matsushima

Many other Zimbabwe-born players are playing at top levels in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and across Europe.