adminto take part at the Hong Kong, Edinburgh and London International Rugby Board Sevens tournaments.
Over the last few years, Zimbabwe have mainly been playing at the Dubai and South Africa – events which are the opening legs of the IRB series.
The Cheetahs would also often take part in the Hong Kong tournament depending on how they would have fared at the Dubai and South Africa competitions.
Yesterday, the Cheetahs saw their consistent run pay dividends when they were invited to three more international tournaments, which make it a busy 2011/12 season for them on the IRB Series.
The Dubai tournament will get the IRB series underway when it kick-offs during the first week of December.
With their profile on the international stage growing, the Sevens team could soon join South Africa and Kenya who are currently the only core teams from Africa to compete on the full IRB series.
The Cheetahs will start their campaign in Dubai and Port Elizabeth this year before travelling to Hong Kong, Edinburgh and London in the first half of next year with the extra legs providing a huge boost for the development of Zimbabwe Sevens rugby.
The opportunity to see the Cheetahs play at more tournaments on the IRB circuit has also largely been as a result of the fact that Zimbabwe have been doing well on the African continent.
Coach Liam Middleton’s men recently won the Confederation of Africa Rugby South Zone tournament.
They have also won the Castle Sevens in Zambia.
The Cheetahs who are often under the guidance of assistant coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba on their continental assignments also finished runners up at the Middelburg Sevens after falling to hosts South Africa 21-5 at the weekend.
The Middleburg Sevens is one of the African tournaments that – over the years has given the Cheetahs an opportunity to play some competitive rugby as part of their preparations for the start of the IRB circuit
By half time the Springboks were leading 7-5 and crucially restricted the Cheetahs from adding more points on the scoreboard in the second period while they added two converted tries to seal their win.
Wesley Mbanje scored the only try for the Cheetahs but injured himself in the process.
The Cheetahs played a total of five games suffering a 19-21 defeat at the hands of Barbarians but finished top of Pool A where they thumped Namibia 35-0, saw off the Pumas 26-14 before completing their group matches with 26-0 defeat of EPA Academy in the semi-final.
It was also at this tournament that Kuda Chiwanza, Kelvin Magunje and Mike Morris made their debut appearances for the Cheetahs.
Zimbabwe results
Pool A
lost 19-21 v Barbarians,
won 35-0 v Namibia
won 26-14 v Pumas (won Pool A)
Semi-final: won 26-0 v EPA Academy
Final: lost 26-0 v Springboks
Online Reporter