After their male counterparts failed to make it for the 2016 Olympic games over the weekend, the Zimbabwe women’s Sevens rugby are faced with the same task with the hope to do better

The women’s side left for Ireland on Monday evening for the Olympic Sevens qualifier play-off and like the men’s tournament, only one team will make it through.

Zimbabwe is one of the three African countries taking part in the two-day competition, the other being Tunisia and Madagascar. Kenya qualified through the African qualifiers last year while South Africa had an automatic slot courtesy of their ranking.

Zimbabwe are in Pool A where they were drawn against Russia, Samoa and fellow Africans Madagascar and their first game will be against a tough Samoa on Saturday in Dublin.

They will then take on Russia before rounding up their group games with a date against Madagascar.

Zimbabwe will have to get at least two wins and finish in the top two of their group If they are to make it for the Championship Cup and keep their hopes for qualification otherwise they will have to play in the Championship Trophy – a second tier competition as they would be out of the Rio race.

Zimbabwe Squad: Charity Mucucuti (captain), Margaret Magwaro, Caroline Malenga, Peace Sithole, Precious Marange, Simbisai Kadye, Ruvimbo Musere, Constance Ngwende, Lindiwe Munerenyu, Rumbidzai Chabveka, Rumbidzai Chigumbu, Gertrude Masora.

Coach: Abigail Kawonza

Manager: Susan Kamukai