Rugby Africa and the Tunisia Rugby Union (TRU) on Tuesday apologized to Zimbabwe after their players slept on the street following an accommodation dispute before a match this weekend.
The Zimbabwean players rejected the hotel they had been booked into, describing it as disgusting.
The Sables players also protested against non-payment of their dues and meal allowances on their trip, during which they played Kenya over the weekend in a Rugby World Cup qualifier match, and are to play Tunisia this weekend.
Images have gone viral on social media, showing the players asleep on the street outside the hotel in which they were booked into.
“We would like to reassure the Zimbabwean Ministry of Sports, Zimbabwe Rugby Union, and all partners and fans that the situation was addressed immediately, and an acceptable solution has been found this morning,” Rugby Africa said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Tunisia Rugby Union took the Sables (Zimbabwe) management to visit another hotel which was accepted,” it went on.
“Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union would like to express their sincere apologies to the Sables team and management for this unfortunate situation.”
Khaled Babbou, an executive member of both TRU and Rugby Africa, said there was no intention to disrupt Zimbabwe’s preparations for the match.
“I can assure you that there was absolutely no intention to destabilise our opponents and we will make every possible effort to ensure they have a good preparation ahead of Saturday’s match,” Babbou was quoted as saying by South Africa’s News24.
