The Lady Cheetahs represented Zimbabwe with determination, passion and clear signs of growth at the World Rugby Sevens Qualifiers held in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing the tournament in 7th place after a competitive and spirited campaign. Despite limited preparation time, the Zimbabwean side demonstrated encouraging potential, teamwork and technical improvement against some of the continent’s strongest teams.
Zimbabwe opened their group stage journey in confident fashion, producing a dominant performance against Mauritius to secure a 29–5 victory. The Lady Cheetahs controlled possession, showed impressive speed in the wider channels, and converted their opportunities with clinical finishing – an ideal start that immediately highlighted their attacking capabilities.
Their second group fixture, however, presented a significant test against continental heavyweights South Africa. Despite a committed defensive shift and strong individual resilience, Zimbabwe fell 47–0 to a physically superior and tactically polished opponent. Still, the Lady Cheetahs did not drop their heads and advanced into the quarterfinals, setting up a thrilling clash with hosts Kenya.
In front of a vibrant home crowd, Zimbabwe held their own with moments of sharp attacking play and solid breakdown work, but eventually lost 33–12 in a competitive encounter. The result moved the team into the 5th-place semi-final against Tunisia, where the Lady Cheetahs fought hard but fell 22–0.
Their final match, the 7th-place playoff against Ghana, offered a perfect platform for a positive finish. The team responded brilliantly, displaying renewed energy and focus to secure a deserved 19–12 victory and close the tournament on a winning note.
A 7th-place finish reflects both progress and potential. With improved preparation, longer training camps, and increased international exposure, the Lady Cheetahs have a strong foundation from which to build — and Nairobi proved they are heading firmly in the right direction.
