Zimpapers Logo

FOR MY COUNTRY . . . Cheetahs’ ace Jacque Leitao tries to find a way past a defensive wall during the last Hong Kong Sevens. — IRB

Jeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
CHEETAHS stalwart Jacques Leitao is upbeat about the national team’s chances against Russia ahead of their meeting in the pool stages of the Hong Kong Sevens next month. The Cheetahs will face Russia, Chile and Barbados in the pool stages of the Hong Kong Sevens to be held from March 28-30 according to the draw for the pool stages of the qualifying tournament released yesterday.

The Russians are familiar opponents to the experienced Leitao who feels they will pose the stiffest challenge of the three teams they will meet in their group.

“Russia will be the main team to look at in our pool but, at least, we have a chance to meet them before Hong Kong and that gives us time to gauge ourselves on how far we have to step up and make adjustments just before we meet them,” said Leitao.

“The other two (nations) are quite unfamiliar and you never know what to expect from teams like these because sevens rugby is a funny tale that can change rapidly and a good team knows that you have to take each game as it comes.”

According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union, the Cheetahs will get an insight into the Russian team when the Europeans compete in the Zimbabwe Invitational Sevens to be held at Harare Sports Club March 14 and 15.

The Rugby Union of Russia will be sending two teams to the local tournament where they will battle against the Famous Grouse Cheetahs, Zimbabwe Goshawks, South Africa, Kenya, Georgia and Hong Kong.

More details about the Zimbabwe Invitational Sevens will be released next week.
The Cheetahs are Zimbabwe’s most decorated rugby team and most of the hopes of turning this sport into a truly professional game lie heavily on them gaining core membership status on the IRB Sevens circuit.

Last year the Cheetahs won the qualifying tournament in Hong Kong, which provides the winning team with automatic qualification to the IRB Sevens World Series in the 2014/ 2015 season.

The Cheetahs had a short festive season as players have been in training since the beginning of the year at the Innovate High Performance Centre in Harare where they have focused on strength and conditioning.