ALL is set for the Paramount Garments Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament being hosted at Harare Sports Club this weekend, the rebuilding South Africa Blitzboks start as favorites to clinch a spot at the Paris, 2024, Olympics.
12 teams will battle it out for the right to represent Africa at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Kenya and South Africa have participated at the last two Olympics since the reintroduction of the sport at Rio 2016.
Africa could have had at least two representatives had South Africa finished fifth in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and gained automatic qualification.
They however finished seventh and now have to win the Paramount Garments Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament to book the sole ticket to Paris.
It is not all doom and gloom for the runners-up and third placed team as they have another chance to qualify through the Olympic repechage.
The Zimbabwe Cheetahs will want to win the tournament outright and qualify for the Olympics. The home team would want to avoid the Olympic repechage having failed twice to qualify using that route.
Zimbabwe are hosting the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens for the first time in 11 years.
Losson Mutongwiza, Zimbabwe Rugby Union vice president North and in charge of Sevens rugby was happy with the honour of hosting the tournament bestowed upon Zimbabwe.
“I would like to thank Rugby Africa for giving us this tournament I think its a clear sign of faith in Zimbabwe in the way the game has been run,” he said.
“It’s not just the hierarchy in Zimbabwe rugby but all areas, the provinces the way people have come together and supported this tournament are a clear example of what rugby Africa has been looking for so we are very grateful to have the tournament and to obviously be able to put it together.”
