adminDrawn in Pool C of the tournament, Zimbabwe — who are the only non core team in the pool have been drawn against European giants England and France while Africans, Kenya and the Cheetahs complete the Pool C teams.
Zimbabwe start with a date against England in the eighth game of the tournament soon after a battle between Kenya and France.
Then they will take on France before the pool decider against Kenya before going into the knock- out stage.
The Cheetahs are taking part in the IRB World Series for the first time this year as they were not part of the teams that travelled to Australia for the Gold Cost tournament, which now serves as the series opener.
In the previous years, the Dubai tournament used to serve as the series opener until this year when the tournament was expanded with the inclusion of the Japan tournament.
This also saw the Cheetahs getting more tournaments as they only used to take part in the Dubai and South Africa legs of the series and were invited to Hong Kong depending on how they played in the first two events.
The Cheetahs were awarded with the honour of also playing in England and Edinburgh in Europe.
But their focus this week will be on their season opener where they are the lowest seeded side in the pool and also the only side who are not a core Sevens side.
Having left the country on Sunday, the Cheetahs have enough time to get used to the conditions in the Emirates Kingdom where the Germany- based duo of Manasah Sita and Gardner Nechironga met up with the rest of the side from their base.
From Dubai, the Cheetahs will proceed to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where they, however, will be missing the services of captain Jacques Leitao due to work commitments and will be replaced by South Africa-based Mike Morris and Daniel Hondo taking over as captain. As Gold Coast winners, Fiji top Pool A in Dubai and face matches against Samoa, Argentina and the hosts United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand, runners-up in Australia, head Pool B and will play USA and Portugal before clashing against the third African side at the tournament — South Africa.
Wales head Pool D and will play Scotland in pool play for a second week in succession, as well as Australia and Canada.
Following their win on the Gold Coast, Fiji have a lead in the Sevens Series as they currently have 22 points ahead of New Zealand (19), South Africa (17), Australia (15) and Wales (13).
Pools
Pool A: Fiji, Sanoa, Argentina. , Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa United States, Portugal. , Pool C: France, England, Kenya, Zimbabwe. , Pool D: Wales, Australia, Scotland, Canada
Zimbabwe Squad
Fortune Chipendu, Jacques Leitao, Justin Coles, Manasah Sita, Graham Kaulback, Daniel Hondo, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Gardner Nechironga, Gerald Sibanda, Tangai Nemadire, Wes Mbanje,
Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Manager: Bruce Hobson
Online Reporter