Zimbabwe Cheetahs head coach Fortune Chipendu has highlighted the benefits and challenges of the Sables’ success in the 15-a-side game.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Chipendu noted that while it has improved player fitness, it has also made it difficult to maintain a settled sevens squad.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsZimbabwe made history by winning the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup to secure direct qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, ending a 36-year wait for a return to the global showpiece.The Sables’ qualification has renewed interest in rugby across the country, but the growing focus on the 15s team has presented both opportunities and challenges for the Cheetahs as they seek to strengthen their sevens programme.##NAJAVA_MECA_10028711##According to Chipendu, the involvement of some sevens players in the 15s setup has contributed positively to their physical conditioning, although further work is needed to ensure they adapt to the unique demands of the shorter format.“It helps us a lot because some of our players have been training with the 15s team, which improves their fitness. However, we need to sharpen our sevens structure and ensure that players adapt to the specific demands of the 7s game. Overall, the success of the 15s team has been beneficial to us,” Chipendu said.Despite the benefits, the Cheetahs coach admitted that the Sables’ qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup has complicated efforts to maintain a consistent sevens squad, with players eager to earn a place in the team heading to Australia.Kevin Wambua welcomes squad selection headache ahead of HSBC SVNS 2The expanded 2027 tournament will feature 24 teams, with Zimbabwe set to compete in Pool F against England, Wales and Tonga.Chipendu acknowledged that representing Zimbabwe at the World Cup remains a major ambition for players, making it difficult to retain some of the talent needed for the sevens programme.“It is quite difficult to maintain a consistent 7s squad because every player dreams of playing at the 15s Rugby World Cup. It is the biggest stage a player can represent their country on, so naturally, everyone wants to be part of that team,” he explained.The coach, however, said the Cheetahs are working to establish a core group of sevens players while remaining flexible whenever the 15s team calls up players.“We try as much as possible to build a core group of 7s players, although we know that, from time to time, the 15s team will select a few players to join them. We are comfortable with that because we understand what it means for a player to represent their country at the World Cup,” he said.To address the challenge of maintaining squad depth, Chipendu revealed that the Cheetahs have adopted an open-door recruitment policy, allowing interested players to try out for the team.KRU official highlights areas to polish ahead of next year’s Safari SevensThe approach is aimed at identifying more talent and building a stronger pool of players capable of meeting the demands of international sevens rugby.“So far, the process has been going well. We have adopted an open-door policy that allows any player interested in trying out for sevens to come in for assessment.We then put them on a programme to determine whether they can meet the demands and standards of the game. If they do, we consider integrating them fully into the 7s squad. I believe we are on the right track when it comes to recruiting players and strengthening our sevens setup,” he added.
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