The Cheetahs are placed with lowly-ranked rugby sides like the USA, Canada and Portugal in a group from which the top two qualify to the next stage. The African regional qualifiers join Kenya and South Africa from the continent and are favoured to flourish past their group.
The draw was made before the final of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, the second round of the 2012/13 season, won by Samoa. Hosts South Africa were drawn in a tough group that includes the Samoa, France, and Australia. Samoa and Australia are heavily tipped to progress from that group.
Kenya, third-ranked in Dubai, head Pool C, with Wales, Argentina and Spain. Kenya have improved greatly and are a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s qualification to the 2005 World Cup.