ZIMBABWE’S Sevens rugby team was yesterday drawn against Morocco, Ivory Coast and a Kenyan development side, for the inaugural edition of the Africa Cup Sevens set for April 27-28 in Mombasa, Kenya.
Report by Daniel Nhakaniso
The Africa Cup Sevens was launched at the Mombasa Sports Club in Kenya yesterday at a function attended by officials from the Kenya Rugby Union and members of the tournament organising committee.
Zimbabwe’s Sevens rugby team are expected to feature in the tournament in what will be their first competitive assignment since winning the IRB World Series pre-qualifying tournament in Hong Kong recently.
The Cheetahs are expected to use the tournament to prepare for the IRB World Series qualifying finale for core team status in London come May and the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Russia in June.
According to the Africa Cup Sevens draw released by the Kenya Rugby Union yesterday, the Cheetahs were drawn in Pool A alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco and Kenya C while Pool B has Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia and Kenya B.
Pool C will feature West Africans Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal and Uganda.
Michael Otieno, the rugby services manager at the Kenya Rugby Union, gave an overview of the tournament during the launch yesterday.
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“The Confederation of African Rugby (Car) are using this tournament to develop the game within the region and also boost Africa’s chances of more participation at the 2016 Olympics.
“The top four teams at the end of the 2014-2015 Sevens World Series will earn automatic qualification to the Rio games and we are hoping that Kenya and South Africa are among the top four, creating more chances for other African sides to qualify, Otieno said.
The Cheetahs, who are the third strongest Sevens side on the continent after South Africa and Kenya, are currently in high spirits after winning the 12-team IRB World Sevens Series pre- qualifying tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens, beating Tonga 22-19 in the final on March 24.
Car Africa Cup Sevens Draw
- Pool A: Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Kenya C
- Pool B: Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya B
- Pool C: Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal, Uganda.
