Mensah unfazed

Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president, Corrie Mensah, says the senior national rugby team will use their end-of-year European tour to sharpen their skills ahead next year's Japan Rugby World Cup.Mensah said three friendly matches involving the squad had in any event not been part of their official preparation plans for the World Cup.He said these friendlies were not written in stone and they were also waiting for confirmation that the invited teams would be travelling to Namibia.The Namibia Invitational XV played a Blue Bulls President's XV side last month and lost 38-52. They were then scheduled to clash with the Boland Cavaliers this past Saturday and cross swords with Western Province this coming weekend.The side was also scheduled to play a friendly against Kenya on 21 October, as the visiting team prepares to play in Repechage tournament in Marseille, France for a spot in the World Cup.Kenya will be up against Canada, Germany and Hong Kong, who will also be contesting the round-robin Repechage tourney, which Namibia avoided, after beating Kenya in the Africa Gold Cup to qualify as the African winner in Group B of the Japan World Cup.This group will feature New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and the Repechage tournament winner, which will be decided in November.The Namibia/Kenya match was also called off as the date was too near to the home side's departure for Europe.Mensah reiterated that the squad's end-of-year tour to Europe, organised by World Rugby for all participating World Cup countries, will give the players the necessary game time.“Those matches were the only ones (officially) in our preparation plans,” he said.Namibia will play Russia in Sochi on 10 November, Spain in Madrid on 17 November and conclude their tour with a match against Portugal in Lisbon on 24 November.The national side booked their place at the World Cup for the sixth successive time after beating Kenya 53-28 in the Africa Gold Cup.The Namibian team will encounter tough competition in Pool B, as they set their sights on winning their very first World Cup match.Namibia have qualified for every World Cup since 1999, but are yet to register a win at the global spectacle. They have so far lost 19 matches on the trot.The Europe tour squad will consist of 28 players and will be announced today.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Mensah unfazed

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-30

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Mensah unfazed

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-30

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