Ahead of their trip, the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) will today launch a new locally designed kit and new sponsor partnerships. Botswana is seeded in Group A with Morocco, Madagascar and Cameroon. Draft Group B will include teams ranked higher than those in Group A and the teams will be based in Jemmal, Tunisia. The tournament is part of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Rugby Cup. The Vultures head into the tournament with their heads held high after securing a victory against Lesotho during the preparation phase. But it hasn’t been an easy journey for the team, following their defeat at the Africa Men’s Sevens 2023. The Vultures roster consists of long-serving players such as Ketshidile Matenanga, Rambo Masalila and Tafadzwa Ncube.

Team manager Lydle Warburton told MmegiSport the team is ready but the tournament will be tough. “The players have been involved throughout the training process and have worked extremely hard. We are in the same group as Morocco; they will have home field advantage and we face them in the opening match,” she said. Forwards coach Royal Mwale said the players are adapting to the changes in the game plan. “The players followed the plan correctly and this puts us in a good position to face top opponents like Morocco. Lesotho opened our eyes and helped us focus on improving our game execution,” Mwale said. The team will travel by bus to Johannesburg tomorrow, then fly to Morocco on Sunday.

Team Biggie Takunda Derera (Hogs), Nicholas de Beer (Buffaloes), Kagiso Setabo (Jaguars), Martin Simon (Cheetahs), Bosenotswe Balopi (Jaguars), Thato Maifala (Rhinos), Mpho Raditlopi (Hogs), Katlego McGann ( Pigs), Rambo Masalila (Jaguars), Ketshidile Matenanga (Cheetahs), Thabang Diphera (Cheetahs), Kitso Matija (Pigs), Tafadzwa Ncube (Jaguars), Michael Strauss (Great North), Herbert Nkonjera (Great North), Ishmael Pelaelo (Jaguars), Brandon van Zyl (Pigs), Brandon Rouse (Pigs), James Vambe (Pigs) , Adrian Zvarevashe (pigs), Ben Strauss (Great North), Letlhogile Tsheko (Jaguars), Tafadzwa Montshiwa (Rhinos), Gofaone Ngande (Rhinos) and Thabang Moepi (Jaguars). Technical team: Andrew Paxinos (head coach), Tshoganetso Katse (assistant coach) and Made Afata (doctor).

Lighting:

November 20 Madagascar – Cameroon Morocco – Botswana