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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Cheetahs fell at the first hurdle at the World Rugby Challenger Series after they were defeated by Tonga and Germany in their opening two matches at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch, South Africa yesterday.
The Graham Kaulback-coached side will today face Belgium in a match that will make less significance in their progression as only two teams will progress directly to the play-offs from the pool. Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs lost 24-12 to Tonga in the opening match before they took on Germany who hammered them 24-12 in an afternoon match.
Germany currently sit on top of Pool A with six points, thanks to the 12-7 win over Belgium in their opening match yesterday.
While Germany appears to have sealed their ticket to the next round, the battle is now between Tonga and Belgium who drew 21-21 yesterday. Tonga have five points while Belgium have three and Zimbabwe anchor the table on two points.
The first leg of the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger competitions began yesterday and will run until tomorrow before they take a week break and only to resume from April 28 to 30 for the second leg.
The winner of the Challenger Series will proceed to a four-team playoff at the HSBC London Sevens in May.
Played with the same format as the Olympic Games, the Challenger Series has 12 teams drawn into three pools of four.
Zimbabwe are in Pool A, together with Germany, Tonga and Belgium while Pool B has Chile, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Italy. Uganda, South Korea, Brazil and Jamaica make up Pool C.
The top two teams from each group, as well as the two best third-placed finishers, will qualify for the knockout stages, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals leading to the bronze and gold medal matches.
Online Reporter