Rugby union in Zambia and Icengelo have been the two most successful. Mpelembe went on to get sponsorship from mobile service providing giant, MTN, which was recently withdrawn. Bob Hesford, born in Luanshya played for England gaining his first cap against Scotland at Twickenham on 21 February 1981. His position was flanker or wing forward. He played 5 test matches in his career. He also played for the Barbarians. Rugby union in Zambia Rugby union in Zambia is a minor but growing sport. The Zambia national rugby union team is currently ranked 73rd by World Rugby. The Zambia Rugby Football Union has 3,650 registered
Comparison of rugby league and rugby union league players such as Jason Robinson, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Henry Paul and Iestyn Harris, took up rugby union contracts. Sailor, Rogers, Tuqiri, Paul and Harris subsequently switched back to rugby league. Players who achieve play international rugby in both codes are known as dual-code internationals. In 1909, when the new "Northern Union" code was still in its infancy, a match between the Kangaroos and the Wallabies was played before a crowd of around 20,000, with the rugby league side winning, 29–26. With the wartime Emergency League suspended, Leeds Rugby League reverted to rugby union during World War