Stormers lock Gary Porter targets World Cup history after Zimbabwe Nations Cup debut

Gary Porter finally pulled on a Zimbabwe jersey in June 2026, and the Stormers lock has wasted little time establishing himself as a key figure in the Sables’ preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia — the country’s first appearance at the tournament since 1991.

Porter had come close to earning his first cap in 2025 but was held back by club commitments and injury. His introduction to the national setup came against South Africa ‘A’, a match that carried no official cap status yet left a clear impression. “It wasn’t an official cap, but facing several familiar faces was a special way to start my rugby journey with Zimbabwe,” he said.

Having missed Zimbabwe’s Rugby Africa Cup qualification campaign — watching from home while recovering from injury — Porter described the tension of following the decisive matches remotely. “It was pretty nerve-wracking, even if I wasn’t there. I was ecstatic when they pulled it off, so I messaged a few of the coaches to congratulate them.”

He went on to start all three of Zimbabwe’s matches in the inaugural Nations Cup in July, where the Sables faced the United States, Canada, and Tonga. Zimbabwe pushed each opponent hard, coming within a single try of defeating Canada, though they did not secure a win across the tournament.

Porter described his role as one of experience rather than imposition. “I tried to bring everything that I have learnt from the Stormers and Ealing. They looked to me to bring composure and experience in the set-piece. But I didn’t join only with the idea of adding — I wanted to learn as well.”

Despite the profile that comes with playing in the URC, Porter was keen to highlight the depth already present in the Zimbabwe squad, echoing sentiments expressed by fly-half Ian Prior. “Several of my national team teammates could be playing in the world’s top leagues. A huge pool of talent deserves more recognition,” he said.

For Porter, the Nations Cup served as a valuable accelerant ahead of Australia 2027. “It was definitely a learning curve for a lot of us, as it was the first time we played against some of those nations. We were looking to push our rivals, and I think we did that, even though we didn’t bank a win. It was a massive step.”