15 Sep 2014

This year’s Botswana Rugby Union League champions, the BDF Cheetahs, are Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) north sevens winners.

The Cheetahs reclaimed glory as the BAC north sevens champions at a tournament played at the Francistown Club rugby grounds on September 13.

Competing against 10 other teams from around the country in a round robin point system, Cheetahs, who were also the defending champion managed to overcome all their competitors in the tournament to secure the first spot to reach the final against their runner up UB Rhinos.

In the final, Cheetahs maintained their winning streak as they also proved to Rhinos why they were the leagues champion beating them 15-0 to reclaim the title.

In the ladies game, the women BDF Cheetahs, also the defending champions, failed to defend their title and lost to the host, BAC north ladies who staged a tough competition against them to win the tournament.

The BAC North ladies took charge of the tough encounter and fought hard to secure the 10-5 victory against the defending champions. The tournament organiser, Gabriel Mphinyane of BAC north explained in an interview that the sevens tourney was part of the BRU calendar and teams hosted the competition on rotational basis.

This year’s tournament attracted 11 men’s teams from Gaborone, Jwaneng, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown and five ladies teams. Mphinyane said the tournament was usually hosted after the league had ended to give teams’ continuous competition.

Again, he said they decided to invite the two senior schools in Francistown, Mater Spei College and Francistown Senior School rugby teams for exposure and advanced rugby competition as a way to encourage them not to leave the sport at the completion of their secondary education.

The sport, he said needed to grow and it would be through addition of new young players and retaining young players after they finished school.

He also said they had also invited teams from Zimbabwe but failed to come due to unforeseen circumstances. Only referees from Zimbabwe managed to officiate at the tournament.

Meanwhile, Masego Austin of Cheetahs ladies was crowned player of the tournament while Damelin Motlogelwa scooped the title on the men’s side.

The next sevens tournament will be held in Gaborone this weekend. Ends