The Cheetahs beat SA Buffaloes 24-14 to claim the international Sevens Tournament, but Hobson said focus should be on this month-end’s Cathay Pacific HSCB Hong Kong Sevens Series in which the country is aiming to gain core status if they finish in the top three. The Gilbert Nyamutsamba coached side will face Phili ppines, Spain and Canada in Pool E in Hong Kong in a 12-team qualifying tournament for core status.
The two finalists and the winner of the third and fourth play-off secure core team status and join the 12 existing core teams at each round of the 2012/13 HSBC Sevens World Series. Hobson said the Hong Kong Series will be the defining moment for the country’s Sevens rugby.
“The International Spar Sevens Series is very important for our preparations for the forthcoming Hong Kong Series. If we manage to attain the core status, that would be a huge milestone for us. The Spar International Sevens Series helped us identify our weaknesses,” he said.
“In the pool stages of the game, some of our players were not up on their feet, but managed to do better for us to finish on second position in our pool. We played as a team, but I think Manasah Sita, Jacques Leitao and Wesley Mbanje were outstanding.”
Hobson also revealed that the team would be going into camp on Tuesday as they begin their preparations for the forthcoming tournament.
“We are expecting Gardner Nechironga and Njabulo Ndlovu who missed the Spar international Sevens Series to join the squad ahead of the team’s camp starting on Tuesday. There is a carrot for the players to do well in Hong Kong because that would mean them turning professional,” he said.
