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The last time Zimbabwe were playing Sevens in Dubai they took home the Bowl trophy from the Rugby World Cup Sevens by beating Ireland 17-14 in the final.

Now they are finalising their preparations in camp for the IRB Sevens World Series and hope to build on the success they had in March and more recently, at the Nambia and Middleburg Sevens tournaments.

In September Zimbabwe beat Portugal and Argentina to progress to the final of the inaugural Namibia Sevens in Windhoek and finished ahead of other Sevens favourites Fiji and Samoa in the rankings.

Zimbabwe then travelled to Middleburg where they met South Africa again and came close to an upset only to be edged out 10-7 to the hosts. Having lost 61-14 in Namibia this was a demonstration of how far the Cheetahs have come.

As with last year, Zimbabwe will participate in the second IRB leg in George as well as the curtain raiser in Dubai and manager Bruce Hobson is aware his sides’ performance at these two tournaments will be crucial in determining Zimbabwe’s fate at the Hong Kong tournament next year.

The Hong Kong event is a 24-team tournament and a good performance by the improving Cheetahs could see them getting an invitation to feature alongside the traditional IRB Series teams.

In Africa, only the Springboks of South Africa and Kenya, have been a regular feature on the series and the Cheetahs believe they could be the third African side in that elite group.

The chosen Cheetahs 

Japheth Ndebele has been ruled out as he would be writing college exams during the period of the Cheetahs tour.

Alex Ndangana, who was not part of the team that travelled to Middelburg, South Africa, last month, and Mathew Rowe are some of the players that have been added to the squad.

This could mean Gardner Nechironga might be moved to the forwards where he will partner the likes of Fortune Chipendo and captain Jacques Leitao, while Ndangana has a chance to strengthen the back line.

Cheetahs’ manager Bruce Hobson indicated that his team started their camp with fitness tests and then went into training drills at Old Georgians.

"It’s pleasing to note that most of the guys had improved on fitness levels compared to last week when we had our first fitness tests at Old Georgians,” said Hobson.

"We will be training three times a day starting with an 8am training session till mid-morning, take a break, and we have another one up to lunch before we have an evening session.

"Our departure is on the November 29 and we will go via Johannesburg to Dubai and we are expected to be in George on December 6 so that we get used to the conditions in good time before the tournament kicks off.”
 

For the opening leg of the World Series, the Cheetahs have been handed a tough Pool B draw where they will play former champions Fiji, Samoa and Scotland in the 16-team competition. Last year they did however beat Scotland in the Bowl quarter final before losing to France in the semi final.

In George, where they won the Shield last year, Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool A where they meet Kenya, hosts South Africa and France at Outeniqua Park Stadium on December 11-12.

Cheetahs Squad:Gardner Nechironga, Slatter Ndlovu, Wesley Mbanje, Fortune Chipendo, Grant Mitchell, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Tangai Nemadire, Gerald Sibanda, Graham Kaulback, Daniel Hondo, Tafadzwa Mhende, Alex Ndangana, Mathew Rowe, Scotty Jones.