Carving out a pathway for women's rugby players
Rugby
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) officially launched its Tier 1 Rugby programme at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek yesterday.
The programme promotes the values of rugby and equips young women with rugby discipline and knowledge in a safe and supportive environment, allowing participating players to feel included and empowered.
The programme was made available and is funded by World Rugby in line with the 2025 Women's World Cup campaign.
A total of 126 countries worldwide applied for the pilot programme, with only seven from Africa including Namibia being successful with their applications.
Pilot project
The five-phase pilot programme was launched successfully and will run until September 2025. So far it already reached over 800 participants in four primary schools located in the Katutura and Khomasdal residential areas (Bet-El, Namutoni, Moses van der Byl and Elim).
Five active senior women’s players – Emilyn Marais, Fiola Vliete, Ivone Kooper, Klaudia Josef and Yasmine Abdul-Karim – were also trained and completed the World Rugby Level One coaching course.
These five are volunteering their services and expertise while showing as role models that rugby can truly be a sport for everyone, regardless of their background and experience.
Women's rugby
The chief executive officer of the NRU, John Heynes, said the initiative marks a significant milestone in the Union's mission to promote the women's game, empower female players and develop the sport within a safe and inclusive environment.
“We are taking another meaningful step towards broadening access to rugby for young girls and establishing a sustainable pathway for their growth, participation and success.
“Tier I Rugby is more than just a sport, it is a movement to break down gender stereotypes, unlock potential and empower young women to reach their full potential,” Heynes said.
Creating opportunities
The aim is to create more opportunities for girls and women to play rugby at grassroots and eventually elite levels, he explained.
“Through this programme, we are committed to introducing rugby in schools and communities where the sport has previously been under-represented, with the focus on fostering a passion for the game among young girls.
“We will develop a clear pathway for women's rugby, helping aspiring players transition from school-level programmes to national and international competitions. Hopefully, we can employ some of our women’s coaches on a full-time basis.”
Yesterday’s launch is directly aligned with the Rising Rugby Playing Campaign, he added. “This is an ambitious initiative with an emphasis on increasing participation in women's rugby while creating a lasting legacy for future generations. The programme forms part of the NRU's larger goal of raising awareness about the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, with the hope of inspiring Namibian women to pursue rugby at the highest levels.”
The future
Christel Kotze, an NRU board member as women’s representative and former national team captain and coach, said the Union is looking forward to expanding the T1 Rugby format to more schools and communities.
“In partnership with our stakeholders and sponsors, we are building a future where every girl has the opportunity to dream, to learn and exceed through rugby. With the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup on the horizon, we are excited about the potential impact of this programme on the future of women's rugby in Namibia.”
Kotze highlighted that the NRU implemented policies to ensure that all participants have access to a safe playing environment where they can learn, grow and thrive without fear.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable pathway where girls who start playing at school level can progress into development programmes, club competitions and eventually wear the fish eagle on their chest representing Namibia on the world stage.
“With trained coaches and supported frameworks in place, young women can pursue their passion for rugby while gaining life skills extending beyond the field.”
The programme promotes the values of rugby and equips young women with rugby discipline and knowledge in a safe and supportive environment, allowing participating players to feel included and empowered.
The programme was made available and is funded by World Rugby in line with the 2025 Women's World Cup campaign.
A total of 126 countries worldwide applied for the pilot programme, with only seven from Africa including Namibia being successful with their applications.
Pilot project
The five-phase pilot programme was launched successfully and will run until September 2025. So far it already reached over 800 participants in four primary schools located in the Katutura and Khomasdal residential areas (Bet-El, Namutoni, Moses van der Byl and Elim).
Five active senior women’s players – Emilyn Marais, Fiola Vliete, Ivone Kooper, Klaudia Josef and Yasmine Abdul-Karim – were also trained and completed the World Rugby Level One coaching course.
These five are volunteering their services and expertise while showing as role models that rugby can truly be a sport for everyone, regardless of their background and experience.
Women's rugby
The chief executive officer of the NRU, John Heynes, said the initiative marks a significant milestone in the Union's mission to promote the women's game, empower female players and develop the sport within a safe and inclusive environment.
“We are taking another meaningful step towards broadening access to rugby for young girls and establishing a sustainable pathway for their growth, participation and success.
“Tier I Rugby is more than just a sport, it is a movement to break down gender stereotypes, unlock potential and empower young women to reach their full potential,” Heynes said.
Creating opportunities
The aim is to create more opportunities for girls and women to play rugby at grassroots and eventually elite levels, he explained.
“Through this programme, we are committed to introducing rugby in schools and communities where the sport has previously been under-represented, with the focus on fostering a passion for the game among young girls.
“We will develop a clear pathway for women's rugby, helping aspiring players transition from school-level programmes to national and international competitions. Hopefully, we can employ some of our women’s coaches on a full-time basis.”
Yesterday’s launch is directly aligned with the Rising Rugby Playing Campaign, he added. “This is an ambitious initiative with an emphasis on increasing participation in women's rugby while creating a lasting legacy for future generations. The programme forms part of the NRU's larger goal of raising awareness about the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, with the hope of inspiring Namibian women to pursue rugby at the highest levels.”
The future
Christel Kotze, an NRU board member as women’s representative and former national team captain and coach, said the Union is looking forward to expanding the T1 Rugby format to more schools and communities.
“In partnership with our stakeholders and sponsors, we are building a future where every girl has the opportunity to dream, to learn and exceed through rugby. With the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup on the horizon, we are excited about the potential impact of this programme on the future of women's rugby in Namibia.”
Kotze highlighted that the NRU implemented policies to ensure that all participants have access to a safe playing environment where they can learn, grow and thrive without fear.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable pathway where girls who start playing at school level can progress into development programmes, club competitions and eventually wear the fish eagle on their chest representing Namibia on the world stage.
“With trained coaches and supported frameworks in place, young women can pursue their passion for rugby while gaining life skills extending beyond the field.”
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