All set for Sevens tourney

Brandon Moyo

THE stage is set for the first Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Sevens tournament of the year that is scheduled for Hartsfield Rugby Grounds this afternoon.

A total of eight teams will battle it out in the fast paced rugby action. The tournament comes after the conclusion of the 2024 15s league and the hosting of the Sables at the home of rugby, Hartsfield last weekend.

The eight teams in competition tomorrow are Matabeleland Warriors, Old Miltonians (OMs) Bulldogs, Panthers, Highlanders, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe School of Mines and Gweru Sports Club.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four and the pool winners will proceed to the final. The competition will also be used to select a provincial side that will compete at the Zambezi Challenge Cup scheduled for Harare on September 28.

Tournament director Busani Ncube said it’s all systems go ahead of tomorrow’s event. Ncube said they are looking forward to an enthralling day of rugby with intense battles and competition, proving to be a high-quality day of rugby action for fans to enjoy.

“Everything is going well. We are all looking forward to the tournament on Saturday. It’s going to be a very interesting tournament. The teams are still fit, as they are coming from the Archer Clothing Rugby League 15s, so, everyone is in shape,” said Ncube.

Apart from the eight men’s teams that will be in action, there will also be women’s clubs competing on the day that is promising to be an action packed one for the rugby faithful.

Ncube called on the city’s rugby faithful to come in numbers to support the event.

“We have seen in the past weeks that rugby has a massive following. So, we are calling on all rugby lovers to come in numbers and enjoy a fun-filled day of high-quality rugby action. It’s going to be an entertaining day,” said Ncube.

Beyond this weekend event, other exciting rugby events are set to happen leading up to November’s Unforgettable Sevens tournament, where international teams from Zambia and Botswana are also expected to show their prowess. —@brandon_malvin