Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe men’s sevens rugby team, the Cheetahs, will use the World Rugby Sevens Challengers Series as part of their preparations for the World Cup to be held later this year.
The Cheetahs kick off their World Rugby Sevens Challengers Series in Chile on Friday with a date against Hong Kong, followed by Tonga and Jamaica on Saturday and Sunday.
Sevens captain Kudzai Mashawi said besides using the World Rugby Sevens Challengers Series, they are geared up for the Chile tour and have set their sights on winning the series to get the sole ticket into the lucrative HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series next season.
“We’ve been working hard at the gym. We keep ticking our boxes so that we’re in the best shape for the tournament. Just like everyone is expecting, Chile is going to be a tough test but we are not looking at shooting ourselves on the feet. We’re going there with the mindset of winning all the six games,” said Mashawi.
The Cheetahs are in Pool B of the Challenger Series with Hong Kong, Tonga and Jamaica, while host Chile were paired in Pool A with South Korea, Papua New Guinea and Georgia.
Pool C is made up of Germany, Uruguay, Uganda and Lithuania.
The top two teams from each pool, along with the top two third-placed nations, qualify for the quarter-finals before the semi-finals and final decide the winners, who will receive the ultimate prize of promotion to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Cheetahs coach Graham Kaulback will name the final squad for the World Cup to be held in South Africa after the Chile tour.
“We are working with a squad of about 20 players for the World Cup and we will look to name the final squad for the World Cup in August.
“We have Shingi Katsvere in our mix who joined us from the Sables. Apart from him, we are working with a majority of players who are locally based and almost 7’s specialists at this stage as is the growing ‘best practise’ for 7s performance worldwide,” he said.
Cheetahs Squad
Godfrey Magaramombe, Kudzai Mashawi, Vuyani Dhlomo, Munopa Muneta, Munesu Muneta, Tapiwa Mulenga, Jafnos Chiwanza, Pride Nyameni, Tadius Dzandiwandira, Ryan Musumhi, Shingirai Katsvere, Nigel Tinarwo
Management
Graham Kaulback (Head Coach), Ricky Chirengende (Assistant Coach), Margaret Gibson (Physiotherapist)
Non-Travelling Reserves
Keegan Cooke, Brandon Boshi, Sam Phiri, Jeremiah Jaravaza, and Carlos Matematema — @ZililoR
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