One of the core values of rugby is RESPECT.

And that is what the Zimbabwe women's Sevens rugby team is asking for.

Captained by Charity Mucucuti, the side get their Olympic qualifier play-off campaign with a date against a tough Samoa at the University College Dublin.

Only one of the 16 teams in the competition will make it to the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics and Rumbidzai Chigumbu feels they will at least finish amongst the top teams.

She believes they have put in a lot of effort for them to being Ireland, a feat she says they should be respected for.

“Please do not look down upon us because we are putting in a lot of effort in our race to the Olympics. We will definitely come back home with some silverware,” said Chigumbu.

Zimbabwe are in Pool A of the competition where they were drawn against Russia, Samoa and fellow Africans Madagascar.

Their first game on Saturday will be against Samoa before taking on another tough side Russia while the game against Madagascar will complete their group games.

The top two teams in each of the groups will progress to the knock out stage of the Olympic qualifier, while the bottom two sides will be relegated to play in the second tier competition known as the Challenge Trophy.