PREPARATIONS for the Zimbabwe Invitational Sevens Tournament are expected to reach the home stretch after Hong Kong became the second international side to arrive ahead of the start of the third edition of the high-profile rugby tournament at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
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Hong Kong, who have brought a very strong squad, touched down at Harare International Airport around midday yesterday while Russia who are bringing two teams and neighbours South Africa are expected today.
Georgia were the first international side to arrive on Monday for the tournament which Zimbabwe will use to prepare for the Kong Sevens later this month where they will battle for core status on the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Jamie Hood will captain the 14-man strong Hong Kong squad, which includes Max Woodward, Rowan Varty, Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Alex McQueen, Josh Peters, Wright, Kwok Ka-chun, Tom McQueen, Nick Hewson, Raef Morrison, Tsang Hing-hung, Chris Maize and Ben Rimene.
Hong Kong former captain Mark Wright, who also captained Hong Kong to Shield victory at the 2010 Hong Kong Sevens, also made a return to the side having been out of contention for the past three years due to a combination of injury and unavailability.
Gareth Baber, the Hong Kong national coach, said with other core team aspirants Russia and the hosts also featuring, he would use the two-day tournament to finalise his squad for the HSBC World Series event.
“This will offer us a good level of competition, certainly some physical competition as well, which is where we need to be to prime ourselves for the Hong Kong Sevens. It will be an important measurement for us in terms of where we are two weeks prior to the Hong Kong tournament,” Baber said.
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Hong Kong are pooled alongside Zimbabwe’s national 7s side, the Cheetahs, Russia Development Sevens team and Zambia in Pool A. Pool B sees a South African development sevens team, Russia, Georgia and Zimbabwe’s development team Goshawks.
