Harare — The Zimbabwe Cheetahs left the country yesterday for the Hong Kong leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens Series where they are making a return after 10 years.

After having been dropped from the Hong Kong edition in 1998, it was only last year that they were invited to take part in this year's games as their performance seemed to get better. Zimbabwe are in a tricky Pool D where they will have to face the challenge of Fiji, Korea and Wales, who they will also play in their opening game on Saturday.

The following day, the Cheetahs will then face former champions Fiji before they take on Korea, and team manager Bruce Hobson, who is also the Zimbabwe Rugby Union president, was pleased with the tournament's schedule. "The good thing about this tournament is that players get a lot of rest time in-between the games so they get to perform better as there is a lot of recovery time. "Unlike in some of the legs of the Sevens series, including the Dubai Sevens which takes place over two days, this will be over three and I think it is good for the players," said Hobson. The former Sables hooker was pleased with the condition of his side. "The side is looking good and has not had any problems." The Cheetahs also left with assistant coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba who had not been with the side for sometime.

"Gilbert has not been with us for sometime but this time he will be part of the squad though the IRB does not pay for the assistant coaches expenses, we find a lot of value in him so we are going to pay for his travel expenses," added Hobson.

Cheetahs Squad

Fortune Chipendo, Cleopas Makotose, Jacques Leitao, Gardner Nechironga, Grant Mitchell, Neil Nortjie, Tendai Takavarasha, Paul Staark, Bruce Chibesa, Slatter Ndlovu, Gerald Sibanda, Alex Ndangana, Daniel Hondo, Willis Magasa, Tangai Nemadire.