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Fungai Muderere
FOLLOWING their indifferent campaign in the second edition of the Victoria Falls Kwese Sevens finals, Zambezi Cheetahs plunge into World Series Qualifier battle in Hong Kong.
The contest which runs from Friday to Sunday, will see two players make their World Rugby tournament debut.
TheyA� have been named in the Zimbabwe national sevens rugby team.
Hooker Connor Pritchard and wing Ziyanda Khupe will play for the first time in a World Rugby tournament when they take part in the qualifier.
The Cheetahs squad was named last Friday and the team headed off to Hong Kong last Sunday.
Pritchard and Khupe made their Zambezi Cheetahs debut during the Kwese Sports Victoria Falls Sevens a fortnight ago which saw them being drafted into the training squad which was fine tuning in Harare. Shayne Makombe and Brandon Mandivenga were the players who were part of the training squad not chosen for Hong Kong.
Coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba went with a vastly experienced squad with the likes of Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza, skipper Hilton Mudariki, Njabulo Ndlovu, Boyd Rouse and Riaan Oa��Neill who have represented the country for years.
The Cheetahs were drawn to play against Papua New Guinea, Germany and the host nation in Hong Kong.
Zimbabwe last appeared at the Sevens World Series qualifier in 2016 when they were clobbered 22-0 by Japan in the semi-finals.
Nechironga (34) is now enjoying a second lease of life in his international career after coming out of retirement in 2015.
Nechironga, who was part of the Cheetahs squad for the 2009 and 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens finals, is now in line to fight for a place on the roster for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens to be held in San Francisco, United States in July.
a�?They have experienced some sevens demands so we are happy that we actually got a chance to play in a tournament like Kwese Sevens before going to Hong Kong,a�? said Nyamutsamba.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs squad for Hong Kong
Biselele Tshamala, Connor Pritchard, Boyd Rouse, Ziyanda Khupe, Ngoni Chibuwe, Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Hilton Mudariki(captain), Lenience Tambwera, Stephan Hunduza, Riaan Oa��Neill. .
Online Reporter