We’ve got your back, Cheetahs told

Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub

PADDY Zhanda Jnr stood like a proud father as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union Interim Management Committee chairperson welcomed his sevens side, the Cheetahs, at the union offices in Newlands on Wednesday.

The Zimbabwe rugby sevens side capped off what has been a brilliant 12 months for the sport as they were crowned Africa Cup Sevens champions in Uganda last weekend.

The win means that the country is now double champions, as the fifteens side, the Sables, won the continental cup also in Uganda last year.

The Sables’ win saw them book their ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, while the Cheetahs now return to the World Rugby HSBC SVNS circuit.

“These are very exciting times for us,” said Zhanda.

“I am proud of the boys and the technical team, as we know how much blood, sweat and tears went into their preparations.

“So it’s very nice when things work out the way they have.

“We are now the reigning fifteens and sevens African champions, so it is brilliant times for rugby in Zimbabwe,” he said.

The Cheetahs put up a near-perfect display in Uganda last week as they finished as the only unbeaten side in the eight-team tournament held at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala, Uganda.

On the way to the final, the Cheetahs beat Morocco (19-12), Ghana (40-17) and Nigeria (26-14) in the group stages of the tournament.

They were then made to sweat in the knock-out stages, taking victories over Zambia (24-19) and Uganda (26-19) in the semi-finals and final, respectively.

The result means that Zimbabwe will be Africa’s representative on the HSBC SVNS circuit, according to the new format.

World Rugby has since revamped the format, dividing the teams into three categories in 2027.

At the top is Division 1, which will encompass eight men’s and women’s teams.

In the men’s category, the teams include South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, France and the United States of America. The women’s teams are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Japan, Fiji and Spain.