adminSenior Sports Reporter
TWO changes have been made to the Zimbabwe national Sevens rugby team as the Cheetahs head off to the South African installation of the HSBC Sevens World Series to be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and Sunday.From the 12-men squad which took part in last weekend’s Confederation of African Rugby Africa Cup Sevens at Prince Edward High School, scrumhalf Graham Kaulback and Rian O’Neil have been dropped with their places being taken up by Hilton Mudariki and Kudakwashe Chiwanza.
Mudariki, who recently made the switch from the United Kingdom to South Africa was always in the plans for the CAR Africa Cup but arrived in Harare late from his new base after the team had already been announced.
Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba had bemoaned the lack of a natural flyhalf during the CAR Africa Cup with Boyd Rouse who plays prop in the shorter format of the game being tried at first receiver while O’Neil was also tried in that position.
After their third place finish at the CAR Africa Cup which secured them a place in Hong Kong next year, the Cheetahs resumed training at Innovate High Performance Centre last Tuesday with the final squad named yesterday afternoon.
Nyamutsamba has stuck with the tried and tested skipper Jacques Leitao, Wesley Mbanje, Gardner Nechironga, Fortune Chipendu, Njabulo Ndlovu, outstanding wingers Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza, prop Rouse, backline players Kilvan Magunje as well as Shayne Makombe.
The Cheetahs fly out to South Africa from Harare at midday tomorrow and arrive in Port Elizabeth on the same day.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs final squad for South Africa: Jacques Leitao(captain), Fortune Chipendu, Gardner Nechironga, Stephan Hunduza, Hilton Mudariki, Njabulo Ndlovu, Boyd Rouse, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Shayne Makombe, Wesley Mbanje, Kilvan Magunje.
Head Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Assistant Coach: Daniel Hondo
Team Manager: Steve McDonald
Online Reporter