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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
TWO players yet to make their World Rugby tournament debut have been named in the Zimbabwe national sevens rugby team for the World Series Qualifier in Hong Kong.
Hooker Connor Pritchard and wing Ziyanda Khupe will play for the first time in a World Rugby tournament when they take part in the qualifier, a tournament which runs from Friday to Sunday. The Cheetahs squad was named last Friday with the team to head off to Hong Kong today.
Pritchard and Khupe made their Zambezi Cheetahs debut during the Kwese Sports Victoria Falls Sevens last weekend which saw them being drafted into the training squad which has been fine tuning in Harare. Shayne Makombe and Brandon Mandivenga were the players who were part of the training squad not chosen for Hong Kong.
Coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba has gone with a vastly experienced squad with the likes of Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza, skipper Hilton Mudariki, Njabulo Ndlovu, Boyd Rouse and Riaan O’Neill having represented the country for years.
The Cheetahs have been drawn to play against Papua New Guinea, Germany and the host nation in Hong Kong.
Zimbabwe last appeared at the Sevens World Series qualifier in 2016 when they were clobbered 22-0 by Japan in the semi-finals.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs squad for Hong Kong
Biselele Tshamala, Connor Pritchard, Boyd Rouse, Ziyanda Khupe, Ngoni Chibuwe, Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Hilton Mudariki(captain), Lenience Tambwera, Stephan Hunduza, Riaan O’Neill.
Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Assistant coach: Tangai Nemadire
Team manager: Donald Mangenje
Physiotherapist: Margaret Gibson
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