Zambia’s second biggest sporting event the Lusaka Castle International 7’s tournaments kickoff on Saturday and ends on Sunday.
The event is second in size to the Zambia Golf Open that this year has suffered two delays and two venue switches brought about by the recent global downturn and now set to be held in Ndola this August.
12 teams from five nations including Zambia will battle for honors to be crowned the 11th champions of the Castle 7’s tournament.
Hosts Zambia are seeking their first Castle 7’s title win after finishing runner-up over the last two seasons to
of the competition to defending champions Zimbabwe.
Zambia, two-time champions Zimbabwe and record four-time champions Mpumalanga are the three seeded sides in this years draws and lead Group A, B and C respectively.
Zambia are in Group B together with Botswana A, Harare Sports Club and Zambia Defence Forces side that will comprise players from Arrows and Buffaloes rugby clubs.
Zimbabwe , who are eying a third successive Castle 7’s title, are in Group A and have been paired against Zambia B playing as Lechwe including two South African teams namely Golden Lions and Natal Sharks Academy.
Group C comprises of Mpumalanga, Goshawks of Zimbabwe, Botswana B and Kenya.
Kenya together with Zimbabwe are the two sides in this years Castle 7s that represented Africa at the 2009 IRB 7’s Rugby World Cup and will be the sides to beat for any team with ambitions on this years title.
Kenya reached the semifinals of the IRB 7s World Cup held in Dubai this past March while Zimbabwe reached the quarterfinals of the same tournament.
2009 Lusaka Castle 7s International Fixtures
13/06/2009
09:00: Goshawks-Botswana B
09:20:Botswana A-Defence Forces
09:40:Lions-Lechwe
10:00: Mpumalanga-Kenya
10:20:Zambia-Harare
10:40: Zimbabwe-Sharks
11:00:Goshawks-Kenya
11:20: Botswana A-Harare
11:40: Lions-Sharks
14:40: Mpumalanga-Botswana B
15:20:Zambia-Defence Forces
15:40: Zimbabwe-Lechwe
15:40: Kenya-Botswana B
16:00: Harare-Defence Forces
16:20: Sharks-Lechwe
16:40:Mpumalanga-Goshawks
17:00: Zambia-Botswana A
17:20: Zimbabwe-Lions
14/06/2009
Quaterfinals
09:20: Quarter Final 1
09:40: Quarter Final 2
10:00: Quarter Final 3
10:20: Quarter Final 4
Semifinals
14:10: Semifinal 1
14:30: Semifinal 2
Finals
17:00
*All kickoff times are Central Africa Time
wooooooooooooooow!!