Zimbabwe’s Rugby Sevens team, known as the Cheetahs, has strengthened its roster with players based in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Germany ahead of its match with Australia on Friday at the HSBC Hong Kong series in Hong Kong.
Zimbabwe is grouped with Argentina, Australia and Canada in the 24 nation series.
The team will be captained by Jacques Leitao while vice captain Daniel Hondo, ruled out of the series as he will be attending his brother's wedding, will be replaced by Shingi Chiwanga, who is based in England. Five locally based athletes will also play.
Zimbabwe Rugby General Manager Grant Mitchell told VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga Nyahuye that his team has been getting ready for the Hong Kong event with a strength and conditioning program.
"Our locally based players are expected to undergo a strength and reconditioning program to prepare for international tournament such as the Hong Kong series, during this program they are educated on building up their strength and avoiding succumbing to unnecessary injuries during play," Mitchell explained.
Zimbabwe was invited to Hong Kong after an impressive showing in Bloemfontein, South Africa. After training for two months the team left Zimbabwe on the weekend.