Selected 28 for upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifier

The tough as nails flank Prince !Gaoseb will captain the Namibian selection of 28 players announced yesterday to contest the Rugby Africa Cup 2025 tournament in Uganda’s capital Uganda, which serves as the continental qualifier to the Australia 2027 Rugby World Cup.The unfortunate, untimely injuries to wings Gerswin Mouton (Grenoble, France) and Divan Rossouw (Seattle Seawolves, USA) have excluded two brilliant attacking players, who were both starters at the previous World Cup in France. Rossouw scored eight tries in 14 matches as his franchise reached the playoffs of the just-completed MLR season, but then suffered a hand fracture. Mouton’s 14 tries in 21 matches helped propel Grenoble to the Pro D2 final, where he sustained a knee injury.Backline options such as Denzo Bruwer (FNB Wanderers fly-half and fullback), Helarius Kisting (CS Dinamo, Romania) and Oela Blaauw (University of Johannesburg) have also been ruled out through injury, while Natie van Rensburg (FNB Wanderers) could have been in the picture if not ruled out by work- and travel-enforced absences.Namibia Rugby Union president Petrie Theron reiterated that the travelling players would be subject to medical clearances before departure.After departing for Kampala this coming weekend, Namibia will open their campaign against Senegal on Tuesday 8 July. Five days later, they should be in the semi-final against the winner between Algeria (silver medallists in 2024) and Cote d’Ivoire.The cup final on 19 July will also see the best of the other half of the draw – Morocco vs title holders Zimbabwe, and Kenya vs Uganda.The Namibia squad:Props: Haitembu Shikufa (Leopards); Jason Benade (Unam); Otja Auala (Unam / Rhino Rugby Academy in Cape Town); Sidney Halupe (Wits University); Aranos Coetzee (Free State Cheetahs).Hookers: Louis van der Westhuizen (Free State Cheetahs); Torsten van Jaarsveld (Bayonne); Armand Combrinck (Maties).Locks and loose-forwards: Oliver Kurz (Rissho University, Japan), Tiaan de Klerk (Pumas), Wian Conradie (New England Free Jacks, USA), Richard Hardwick (Grenoble, France), Prince !Gaoseb (captain, CSA Steaua Bucuresti, Romania), Max Katjijeko (CSA Steaua Bucuresti, Romania); Johan Retief (Krasny Yar, Russia); Adriaan Booysen (FNB Wanderers).Scrumhalves: Jacques Theron (FNB Wanderers); Andrew (AJ) Kearns (FNB Unam).Flyhalves / fullbacks: Tiaan Swanepoel (Free State Cheetahs); André van der Berg (US Limoges, France); Cliven Loubser (Anthem Rugby, USA).Centres and wings: Le Roux Malan (New England Free Jacks, USA); Danco Burger, Danie van der Merwe, Jurgen Meyer (all FNB Wanderers); Alcino Izaacs (FNB Unam); Jay-Cee Nel (Pumas).ManagementThe squad will be accompanied by Jacques Burger (director of rugby), Rohan Kitshoff, David Philander, Darryl de la Harpe and Jaco Engels (coaches), Sergio de la Harpe (strength and conditioning coach), Wessel Kotze (team manager), Wilfred Bezuidenhout (team doctor), Tanya Green (physiotherapist), Devin O’Brien (analyst).

Selected 28 for upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifier

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Republikein 2025-07-03

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Selected 28 for upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifier

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