Zimbabwe's international rugby team have been pictured sleeping on the streets of Tunisia ahead of their African Gold Cup clash against the north African country on Saturday.
The images show multiple members of the team laying on pavements at night in the town of Monastir.
This follows the team reportedly being held at passport control for almost six hours upon arrival at the airport and told they would have to pay £530 for visas.
After that debacle the team arrived at a hotel termed ‘disgusting', where the team decided the option of sleeping rough on the streets was a more attractive proposition.
Coached by 2007 World Cup-winning coach Pieter de Villiers, one member of the team claimed the former Springboks coach had paid for meals for the players out of his own pocket.
Zimbabwe are one of six teams vying for a spot in the Africa repechage for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The winner will earn a spot in Pool B alongside New Zealand, South Africa and Italy.
Zimbabwe national rugby team forced to sleep on the streets of Tunisia… @WorldRugby 👀 pic.twitter.com/MGcug87P0l
— Brian Mujati (@MujatiBrewing) July 3, 2018
The Sables, as Zimbabwe are nicknamed, official twitter account issued a statement on Tuesday, which read: “Rugby Africa has accepted a formal complaint regarding the deplorable treatment of the Sables in Tunisia. They have been moved to a suitable hotel.”
