No time to waste as Portugal visit looms

Head coach Allister Coetzee will be hoping for the best despite the delayed start to Namibia’s preparations for the upcoming international season of one, or possibly two, home test matches in Windhoek during July.Club chairmen were over the weekend informed of 51 mostly locally based club players called up for the first national training sessions of the year.In an interview this week, Coetzee admitted that in the restart after the 2023 World Cup in France last September, momentum needs to be created from scratch considering the inactivity due to various factors in the build-up to the one confirmed test match against Portugal on 13 July in Windhoek. The Namibia Rugby Union is also looking to secure the first-ever visit for a test match by The Netherlands seven days earlier.“The cancellation of the South African provincial competition due to concerns over player workloads and lack of rest periods was a factor beyond our control, which would have given us much needed exposure to a higher level at this stage,” Coetzee said.The coach explained that most of Namibia’s foreign-based professional players would most likely only become available to be called up one or two weeks before the test matches. “Outside of World Rugby’s dedicated window periods for test rugby, professional clubs are not obligated to let their players go on national duty, except as stipulated in Regulation 9.“This leaves us little time (approximately nine weeks) for preparation, but we’ll still give it our best shot. The selected players from the recent Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Cup tournament in Zimbabwe should also be seen as exposure with the view to the next four-year cycle to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.”The list of invitees contains at least one player (Wanderers scrumhalf Danie van der Merwe) who due to an unfortunate ankle injury early this season had to be operated and will play no rugby this year. Other names could also be pointed out that played little or no club rugby in the NRU premier league so far this season.The squad will train on Mondays and Wednesdays, in between club training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.In the notice to clubs, the Rugby Union says: “The NRU would like to reassure you that the welfare and management of our players remain our utmost priority. Kindly take note this is not a closed group or squad, as during the course of the Domestic League more players will be invited to form part of the preparation process.”The invited players:Props: Nelius Theron (Grootfontein), Jason Benade (Unam), Herschell van Wyk (Wanderers), Jano Otto (United), Otja Auala (Unam), Bernd Beddies (Grootfontein), Johan Brockman (United), Craig Swartz (Kudus), Ian Klitzke (Nam U20 2024), Renard Hattingh (Grootfontein), Ignus Tripodi (Wanderers).Hookers: Obert Nortje (Wanderers), Wikus Jakobs (Grootfontein), Armand Combrinck (Nam U20, Maties), Edward Drotsky (Nam U20, Rehoboth).Locks: Mahepisa Tjeriko (Unam), William Lottering (Wanderers, Nam U20), Diamando Tjombe (Unam), Johan Luttig (Grootfontein, also considered at loose forward).Loose forwards: Prince !Gaoseb, Peter Diergaardt (both Wanderers), Cameron Langenhoven (Kudus), Ferion Beukes (Wanderers, Nam U20), Pieter Daan Kok (Grootfontein), Viery Haufiku (Unam), Ben Burger (Nam U20, 2023 Whk Affies), Adriaan Booysen (no club), Kistings Minyoi (Unam).Scrumhalves: Jacques Theron (Wanderers), Miquel Busch (Rehoboth), Danie van der Merwe, Reben Botha (both Wanderers).Flyhalves: André van der Berg (Wanderers), Raschano van Rooi (Unam), Johnny Mwenyo (Unam).Centres: Danco Burger, Johan Deysel (both Wanderers), Hillian Beukes (Rehoboth), Alcino Izaacs (Unam), PJ Walters (Kudus), Natie Janse van Rensburg (Wanderers), JP van Wyk (Nam U20, Bloem Rugby Academy).Wings and fullbacks: Warren Ludwig (Wanderers), Lloyd Jacobs (Kudus), Dolano Vries (Rehoboth), Nandi Karuuombe (Wanderers), Quirione Majiedt, Shareave Titus, AJ Zaahl (all three Unam), Lorenzo Louis (United), Geraldo Beukes (Wanderers).

No time to waste as Portugal visit looms

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