Cheetahs in Cape Town

Sport
THE Cheetahs, Zimbabwe national Sevens (7s) rugby squad left for Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday for a one week training camp with the Springboks, South African’s 7s rugby team, ahead of the HSBC World 7s Series tournament set for Hong Kong on March 27 to 29.

THE Cheetahs, Zimbabwe national Sevens (7s) rugby squad left for Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday for a one week training camp with the Springboks, South African’s 7s rugby team, ahead of the HSBC World 7s Series tournament set for Hong Kong on March 27 to 29.

MAMELO NKOMO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The 16 players held their first training session with Blitzbokke upon arrival on Tuesday and will train with the Springboks 7s at their world-class University of Stellenbosch training facilities.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of coaching, Brighton Chivandire expressed gratitude to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) for giving the Cheetahs an opportunity to train with the best ranked team in the World 7s Series.

“We are extremely grateful to Saru for facilitating this important training camp and for the opportunity to train at a world-class facility alongside world-class players and experts in their field,” Chivandire said.

Cheetahs coach Daniel Hondo echoed the same sentiments indicating his squad would acquire and share skills with the Springboks.

Springboks
Springboks

“It is an honour to be able to train with the team of a country that is the top-ranked side in the World 7s Series having so far collected 93 points. We believe that this will not only boost our team’s confidence, but will have a positive impact on their game,” Hondo said.

The team will be trimmed to 12 who will head for Hong Kong on March 22.

Zimbabwe was drawn in Pool F with Spain, Tonga and Georgia in the core membership qualification first stage. In Hong Kong, the Cheetahs and Tunisia will be representatives from Africa while Russia and Spain will be representing Europe with Papua, New Guinea and Tonga representatives of Oceania.

Mexico and Guyana will be representatives from North America, the Caribbean, Uruguay and Brazil from South America and the hosts and Korea from Asia.

Squad Chipendo Fortunate, Chitokwindo Tafadzwa, Chiwanza Kuda, Fransisco Takudzwa, Hunduza Stephan, Kaulback Graha, Leitao Jacques, Magunje Kilvan, Makombe Shayne, Ndlela Mkhululi, Ndlovu Njabulo, O’Neill Riaan, Rouse Boyd, Tambwera Lenience, Tshamala Biselele, Tsomondo Tapiwa

Head coach: Danny Hondo and assistant coach: John Ewing Team manager: Steve MacDonald,