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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

GERMANY came out tops at the Zambezi Challenge Cup competition held at the weekend following a 19-17 victory over the Zimbabwe Cheetahs.

The German team, known as the “Wolfpack,” were taking part in the competition for the first time. In the pool stages, Germany won 24-10 over Cheetahs Academy before getting another victory against Zambian side Red Arrows Rugby Club whom they beat 15-12.

Zimbabwe Cheetahs were the runners up in the Zambezi Challenge

They faced the Spartans of Botswana in the semi-finals and won 14-7.

On their way to the final, Zimbabwe Cheetahs Beat U20 HPC 38-10 before a 36-17 victory over Spartans. They faced Red Arrows in the semi-final and won 15-12.

Graham Kaulback, the Zambezi Cheetahs coach, used the Zambezi Challenge to make his final selection for the Dubai Sevens in the United Arab Emirates at the beginning of December.

The Cheetahs’ last international action was in September when they took part in the Rugby World Cup Sevens held in Cape Town, South Africa, where they finished 23 out of the 24 men’s teams at the tournament.

Kaulback is also expected to name a new captain for the national team after former skipper Kudzai Mashawi retired from international rugby at the end of last month.

-@innocentskizoe