THE Spar Zimbabwe International Sevens tournament has received a boost following indications that South Africa are expected to bring a strong squad as they prepare for the Hong Kong Sevens later this month.
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The much-awaited second edition of the tournament will take place at Harare Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday.
South African rugby publication Rugby365 reported yesterday that the visitors are taking the tournament seriously and will be sending their Sevens national team coach Paul Treu.
Treu, in charge of the South Africa Sevens team, will also be joined by a number of his key players who are part of the South Africa Sevens Elite Players’ Development team.
The SA Sevens Elite Players’ Development team acts a feeder side to the South African Sevens team, which is affectionately known as the Blitzbokke“Blitzbokke coach Paul Treu will accompany the South Africa Sevens Elite Players’ Development team to Harare for this weekend’s Zimbabwe Sevens Tournament. The composition of the team has not been confirmed, but it is believed that a number of Blitzbokke players will be among the touring party as they prepare for the Hong Kong Sevens,” the publication reported yesterday.
Zimbabwe’s Sevens rugby team, popularly known as the Cheetahs, won the tournament last year and will be looking to defend the title on home soil.
With the Zimbabwe team having qualified for the World Cup and aiming to qualify as a core team on the IRB Sevens World Series next season, the team has been training together since the beginning of the year.
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Other finalists from last year, the SA Buffalos, will be attending the tournament once again, as will the Zimbabwe Goshawks, Zambezi Warriors and Zambia.
Both Georgia and Hong Kong have qualified for the Sevens World Cup in Russia later this year and will be sending their national teams to Zimbabwe for the first time.
The second edition of the Zimbabwe Sevens Tournament will once again be played at Harare Sports Club and an eight-team schools tournament will be played alongside the event.
Tournament Draw Pool A: Zimbabwe, Georgia, Zambia Pool B: Hong Kong, Kenya, Zambezi Warriors Pool C: Blue Bulls, Leopards, SA Academy Pool D: Goshawks, Pumas, Buffaloes
Zimbabwe Squads Cheetahs: Fortunate Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Japhet Ndebele, Lucky Sithole, Kelvin Magunje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza, Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Njabulo Ndlovu Daniel Hondo. Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba Manager: Bruce Hobson
Goshawks: Tonderai Chigumbura, Farai Jijita, Dan Nichols, Boyd Rous, Teddy Hwata, Carter Makwasha, Kuda Chiwanza, David Cloete, Lloyd Machanjaire, Shayne Makombe, Lance Chikodzi, Craig Elcombe. Coach: John Ewing Manager: Basil Dingiswayo
Zambezi Warriors: Percy, Kwenda, Eddy Manyere, Ruben Kruger, Ian Armstrong, Nelson Madida, Courtney Watsai, Tino Gurure, Walter Gonde, Dando Ndlovu, Denver Chigege, Charles Gwanzura, Tawanda Chowe, Richard Chigumba, Tatas Matataguta, Gazza Crabbe. Coach: Reuben Kumpasa Manager: Tafadzwa Mhende
