Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay Nations Cup: Kickoff, Team News | Nov. 11, 2026

Information checked: November 11, 2026 at 15:06 UTC (London, Greenwich Mean Time, GMT, UTC+00:00). The match is a future fixture, and the time above records this editorial verification, not kickoff or publication time.

Zimbabwe will face Uruguay on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Ealing, west London, in the fifth round of the World Rugby Nations Cup. Kickoff at Trailfinders Sports Ground is 15:00 GMT (UTC+00:00), or 15:00 UTC. Both sides are still chasing their first win in the inaugural competition. The latest selection news is from Zimbabwe, where a November 11 report names Tinotenda Mavesere as captain and puts Tyrone Gombe and Jason Robertson in the starting halfback pairing. World Rugby's official match center confirms the date, venue and appointed officials.

This is a pre-match preview: November 14 has not arrived, so there is no match result, try count or final score to report. Uruguay's rugby union has confirmed the fixture and its wider November touring squad, but an Uruguay-specific starting 15 and bench for this game were not available in the official union announcements reviewed for this article. The Uruguay Rugby Union's November 10 preview describes the contest as another opportunity to build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Destaques

• Kickoff: Saturday, November 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Ealing, London (GMT, UTC+00:00); 15:00 UTC.
• Team news: Zimbabwe's reported matchday 23 features Mavesere as captain and Gombe at scrumhalf; Uruguay's wider tour squad is confirmed, but its game-specific lineup is still to be verified.
• Recent form: Zimbabwe lost 43-7 to Samoa; Uruguay lost 18-12 to Spain in the November 7 round.
• Standings: Uruguay has eight points in Pool A and Zimbabwe has two in Pool B after four games. Both are seeking their first tournament victory.

When and where is Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay in the Nations Cup?

The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Trailfinders Sports Ground in Ealing, England. Ealing uses GMT (UTC+00:00) on that date, after the United Kingdom's autumn daylight-saving change. The 3:00 p.m. British kickoff therefore equals 15:00 UTC, 5:00 p.m. in Zimbabwe (Central Africa Time, CAT, UTC+02:00) and noon in Uruguay (Uruguay Time, UYT, UTC-03:00). These are all the same instant, not separate kickoff times.

World Rugby lists Katsuki Furuse as referee, with Ben Breakspear and Ben Connor as assistant referees and Stefano Penne as television match official. Fans can confirm arrangements through the official match-official appointments and the match center rather than relying on automatic time displays that may use a visitor's device timezone.

What is the latest Zimbabwe team news?

A November 11 report by Zimbabwe's Herald says coach Pieter Benade has selected a reshuffled 23. Flanker Tinotenda Mavesere is listed as captain. Regular skipper Hilton Mudariki is absent from the named group; the report does not establish whether his omission is tactical or injury-related, so neither explanation should be stated as fact.

In the reported starting backline, Tyrone Gombe is at scrumhalf and Jason Robertson at flyhalf. Ian Prior moves to the replacements, with Bruce Houston also among the backs on the bench. Tapiwa Mafura returns to fullback and Dion Khumalo starts at inside center. The listed forwards include Victor Mupunga, Liam Larkan, Bornwell Gwinji, Dale Lemon, Gary Porter, Mavesere, Godfrey Muzanargwo and Aiden Burnett. Any late change should be checked against World Rugby's match center closer to kickoff.

That selection follows Zimbabwe's heavy defeat against Samoa, when the Sables trailed 19-0 at halftime and Dale Lemon scored their late try. The official round-four report confirms the 43-7 result. What the revised lineup changes in practice will depend on execution, possession and defensive discipline on Saturday, not merely on the names announced before the game.

Who could play for Uruguay against Zimbabwe?

Uruguay, known as Los Teros, traveled to Europe under head coach Guzmán Barreiro. The Uruguay Rugby Union's October 23 tour-squad announcement names forwards including Manuel Leindekar, Manuel Ardao, Germán Kessler and Manuel Diana, plus backs such as Justo Ferrario, Ignacio Álvarez and Joaquín Suárez. This is a broader tour roster, not proof that any particular player will start against Zimbabwe.

Uruguay's latest test was a narrow 18-12 loss away to Spain on November 7. The union's official match report credits Justo Ferrario with two tries and describes a contest decided by a late Spanish score. Uruguay's November 10 preview confirms the team is seeking its first victory in this edition. A starting lineup for the Ealing match should be treated as pending until announced, even if players performed well in Madrid.

What do the Nations Cup standings mean for Zimbabwe and Uruguay?

The Nations Cup has 12 teams divided into two pools, with each team playing six matches against opponents from the other pool. Uruguay belongs to Pool A and Zimbabwe to Pool B, so the Ealing match affects two separate tables, not a single head-to-head league position. World Rugby explains this inter-pool format in its official competition schedule announcement.

According to the official standings reviewed after round four, Uruguay is fifth in Pool A with eight points from four games (no wins, one draw and three losses). Zimbabwe is sixth in Pool B with two points from four losses. The United States leads Pool A on 19 points, while Georgia leads Pool B on 19.

With two matches remaining and at most five standings points available for each victory including a try bonus, Uruguay could finish on no more than 18 points and Zimbabwe on no more than 12. Neither can catch its current pool leader's 19 points. The realistic stakes are therefore a first tournament win, an improved finishing position and useful international experience, not a claim that Saturday's winner will become the pool champion.

How can fans watch Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay live?

World Rugby's match page promotes live coverage on RugbyPass TV. Availability can vary where a national or regional broadcaster holds rights. In Uruguay, the national union says the game will be shown on Disney+. Viewers should check their local provider before kickoff. Tickets for spectators in Ealing are linked through the official match schedule.

What happens after Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay?

The result will help establish where both teams finish in their respective groups before the final November round. World Rugby has scheduled Uruguay to visit Portugal on November 21 and Zimbabwe to face Chile in Angoulême, France, on the same date. Neither the Ealing result nor the later fixtures should be presumed in advance. The scoreboard, any confirmed late roster changes and updated pool totals will be available through the official competition's match schedule and results.

FAQ: Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay, November 14, 2026

What time does Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay kick off?

At 3:00 p.m. on November 14 in Ealing, England (GMT, UTC+00:00), which is 15:00 UTC, noon in Uruguay (UYT, UTC-03:00) and 5:00 p.m. in Zimbabwe (CAT, UTC+02:00).

Have Zimbabwe and Uruguay announced their teams?

Zimbabwe's matchday selection was reported on November 11, with Mavesere named captain. Uruguay has confirmed its November touring squad, but its specific starting lineup for this match was not yet verified in the official announcements checked.

What was the final score of Zimbabwe vs. Uruguay?

There is no final score as of this November 11 verification. The Nations Cup match is scheduled for November 14; the result should be checked after full time using World Rugby's official match center.