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Five national teams — Georgia, Zambia, Hong Kong, Kenya and hosts Zimbabwe — are set to take part in the tournament that also features seven provincial and developmental sides from both Zimbabwe and South Africa
Kenya arrived in the afternoon yesterday while Blue Bulls were the first side from Down South to arrive in the country.
Leopard, Mpumalanga Pumas, Buffaloes, South Africa Sevens elite players’ development team and Zambia are all expected in today.
Cheetahs committee chairman, Donald Mangenje, yesterday said the South Africa Sevens elite players’ development team will be the last team to arrive while Zambia were expected in last night by road.
“Everything is ready now, most of the teams are in the country but we expect South Africa Sevens elite players’ development team to arrive tomorrow (today) and we hope the tournament will go on well,” said Mangenje.
“It is good to note that we have managed to attract such high-profile international teams and to us getting such a high number of international teams taking part at our own homegrown tournament is another feather in the cap because the growth means that we are doing something right.
“There are nine teams that have confirmed participation in the two-day tournament and this shows that we are growing and our prayer is that this translates into more corporate sponsorship as well.
“We have made it bigger and initially our hope was that we would field two Zimbabwean teams but the fact that Botswana pulled out meant that we had to field another team to balance up the groups thus the coming in of the Zambezi Warriors.
“Nine international teams is very good for us because we are going to play some of these teams in our quest for becoming the International Rugby Board core member starting in Hong Kong.”
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union head of performance and national coach, Dai Rees, said they here to gain momentum ahead of their own Hong Kong Sevens, which is the biggest event on the World Series calendar.
“As a squad, it’s important for us to keep things in perspective but we are looking at Zimbabwe first and foremost as a training weekend with a tournament rather than going in with the intent of winning.
“Our targets are more expansive than winning in Zimbabwe.
“Of course, it would be great to come back with something from Harare but what we have been wanting to do all along is to build intensity ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens and we are excited to be able to have the opportunity to play against a couple of top sides that will also be in Hong Kong.”
Before his side’s departure from Hong Kong, Rees told the Asian media that he was happy with his side’s fitness levels and he expects this to carry them through the tournament.
“I’m very pleased that the squad has come in and picked up right where they left off after the Singapore Sevens in November.
“The skill and fitness levels are where we want them to be, which is a great compliment to the entire squad considering the players have been tasked with this whilst being in the midst of our domestic (XVs) season.”
Hong Kong have been drawn in the same pool with World Series core members Kenya and Zimbabwe’s third string side the Zambezi Warriors.
“It’s ideal to have a fixture versus Kenya as an early introduction to the levels we are going to need to be at, not just for Hong Kong, but also for the London Sevens and Rugby World Cup Sevens over the coming months,” said Rees.
“They (Kenya) have raw talent, pace and physical ability, but former England coach Mike Friday has helped them implement the structure and organisation that has made them even more dangerous.
“We are also happy that key South African teams and Zimbabwe will be in action. We hope that on day two we can pick up a few fixtures against these teams.
“We don’t want to avoid those games as there is no better way to test ourselves than (playing) top-flight teams.”
However, it is not only these international teams that are going to take part in the tournament, as the local schools have also been given slots to feature in the event.
“This gives the schools rugby players’ exposure because we have about eight schools that will take part in the tournament, giving them the chance to exhibit their talent at such a stage,” said Mangenje.
“We are not only looking at traditional rugby playing schools in the schools category but we also have the likes of Mbare Academy who have become the epitome of development for Zimbabwe rugby.
“All this would not be possible were it not for our title sponsors Spar and Delta Beverages, Swift, Irvines and many others and we hope their support will continue in helping the game grow in Zimbabwe.”
Tournament Draw
Pool A: Zimbabwe, Georgia, Zambia
Pool B: Hong Kong, Kenya, Zambezi Warriors
Pool C: Blue Bulls, Leopards, SA Academy
Pool D: Goshawks, Pumas, Buffaloes.
Online Reporter