Cheetahs to play WC qualifiers in Morocco

Sevens set for Mpumalanga, South Africa.
This will be the only preparatory event both teams will take part in.
With the cancellation of Zambia’s Castle Sevens tournament, Zimbabwe were left with only one stage to prepare for the qualifiers.
Drawn in Pool B of the two-day event, the Cheetahs will take on Tunisia, Namibia and the Cote d’Ivoire in the group stages.
Zimbabwe have a good chance to make it for the World Cup set for Russia next year as they are the only side in the competition that has more exposure to international games.
Besides regional tournaments, that include Middelburg, Castle Sevens and the Kenya Sevens, the Cheetahs play in five of the International Rugby Board Sevens Series international tournaments.
But the Cheetahs are not taking anything for granted with team manager, Bruce Hobson, saying they are taking the Middleburg tournament seriously.
“It’s an important part of our preparations; we know our performance is going to have an impact on the way we will play in Morocco so we are taking it very seriously.
“Of course, we are yet to name our training squad but we are not sure if Graham Kaulback will be fit enough to play as he had a groin operation but Mike Morris is definitely out with a hamstring injury as well,” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union president.
South Africa and Kenya have an automatic qualification slot for the World Cup and will not be playing in the qualifiers as they are part of the core IRB Sevens series members.
The format of the World Cup qualifiers is that the eight teams are divided into two pools of four teams each and the top two teams in each of the group will proceed to the semi-finals and the finalists get the two tickets for the grand stage.
And in trying to build a strong squad, Hobson said they have made an arrangement to take with them to Middleburg the Goshawks side.
“I have been talking to the likes of Lenience Tambwera and Tapiwa Tsomondo because they show a lot of potential and so it will be good to have them as part of the Goshawks side.
“But the Cheetahs will obviously have most of the core players who include Wes Mbanje, Manasha Sita, Scotty Johns and we have also called back in Tafadzwa Chitokwindo,” added Hobson.
The schools’ Under-18 and Under-16 teams will be playing in the age-grade Craven Week Sevens Festival.
Hobson is confident his charges will be up to the challenge when they travel to North Africa.
“I am sure we will do well in Morocco because we are ranked the highest there so we have to retain that top team tag and we would love to qualify for the World Cup by winning the qualifiers.
“If we play to the best of our abilities we will be able to conquer,” added Hobson.
Meanwhile, the Tag Rugby Trust will on Saturday hold a tournament at Harare Sports Club, which will start at 9am.
“It is our first ever Academies Cup and we will have Mbare Academy, Mbare Bulldogs, Mufakose, Mabvuku, Donnybrooke and Tafara.
“The tournament is for boys and girls in Grade 5 and below from the areas mentioned,” said TRT country manager Tinashe Shamu.