By Trevor Makonyonga
Zimbabwean Rugby Club, Old Georgians, have arrived in Dubai for the Dubai Sevens Men’s invitational tournament to be held on December 6 and 7 this year.
Posting on their Facebook page, the Old Georgians indicated that they have landed in Dubai.
“Touch down Dubai! The boys have all arrived and sound in Dubai. It looks like manage Bruce Hobson has got his work cut off for him over the next few days of training and acclimatization to the desert conditions,” reads the post.
The team also thanked their partners and sponsors in the post.
“Thanks again to our partners and sponsors for coming on board to get the lads there,” reads the post.
The 12 men team is under the auspices of Graham Kaulbeck and Jacques Leitao whilst Bruce Hobson will manage the team.
Kuda Chiwanza is the current captain.
The team carries with it experience in names such as Takudzwa Kumadiro, Kuda Chiwanza, Jerry Jaravaza and Ngoni Chibuwe who all have been capped by the national team.
However, there are unconfirmed reports that centre, David Woolls, will not be risking by playing for Old Georgians since he is said to be registered with another club, Brakpan Rugby Club in South Africa.
In a July 2019 statement released by the Valke Rugby Union in South Africa, they gave the player blessings to play for Old Georgians.
“The Valke Rugby Union has investigated the David Woolls matter. No adverse finding was made against the Brakpan Rugby Club.
“It was, however, found that Woolls contravened Valke competition rule 6.22.1.10 in that he was registered with more than one club, whether within or outside the province.
“It was established that he was registered at the same time with both Brakpan and Old Georgians Rugby Club in Harare, Zimbabwe. Woolls was handed a suspended sentence with the result that he is eligible to play for Brakpan again,” read the statement.
Another player who could be having issues is Takudzwa Kumadiro who was injured in the last part of the season.
Although there are these issues in the Zimbabwean side’s camp, this cannot deter the side from succeeding in the tournament.
Old Georgian’s tournament will be headlined by games to be played against Russia and Japan.
The Zimbabwean side has participated at the tournament since 2017.