24 May 2018

African countries will descend on Gaborone for the 2018 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens, which will be played at the National Stadium this weekend.

The two-day competition features hosts Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, Madagascar, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Morocco and Mauritius.

Botswana has been drawn in Pool C with Morocco, Mauritius and Zambia. Coach Emmanuel Masinki will start the tournament with an encounter against Mauritius on Saturday.

Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal have been placed in Pool A while Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe are in Pool B.

Most of these countries are regular features in the competition and played at the previous tournament in Tunisia, which was won by South Africa with Kenya finishing in second place. Botswana, however, has limited experience in the tournament having featured in the competition on three occasions only. Their last appearance was when they finished on position nine in 2015 in South Africa.

The other two appearances for Botswana were in 2008 in South Africa and in 2011 when they hosted the southern region tournament. In their three previous appearances, Botswana has performed badly with only two victories from 15 matches. They beat Rwanda 24-0 in the 7/8 place classification match of the 2011 tournament, and Zambia 12-5 in the 9/10 place classification match of the 2015 tournament.

The majority of the Botswana team are from UB Rhinos. These are Amogelang Rebatenne, Goitseone Phophole, Kefalotse Kehulakae, Lebogang Kelepile, Nthabiseng Moloiswa, Thato Tutwane, Kelebogile

Bagwasi, Monica Motlhanka and Katlego Disang. Other members of the team are Prudence Ramokapane from BDF Cheetahs, Onkarabile Monyamane from BAC North and Habiba Dithupa from Jwaneng Rugby Club. Ends