Road to World Cup 2023 without Diergaardt

ANDREW POOLMANWINDHOEKThe resignation of Johan Diergaardt as coach of the Namibian rugby team poses a new challenge for the country's qualifying campaign for the next World Cup.Diergaardt' s resignation, coupled with Namibia's recent omission from the South African provincial competition structure, is the latest setback for the national team for whom almost all the momentum under his predecessor Phil Davies' build-up to the 2019 World Cup in Japan was lost.Diergaardt was appointed in March this year, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced sports worldwide to a halt and Namibia has consequently not played any Test rugby (or even club rugby) since the 2019 World Cup in Japan and a cloud still hangs over the future programme.However, a breach of trust with the administration of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has developed recently, says Diergaardt.“I had my resignation letter, which was initially submitted on November 25, drawn up by a lawyer. Subsequent negotiations failed and the NRU finally accepted my resignation on Monday.“The NRU's failure to draw up contracts for the national team management, together with ongoing frustration with aspects of the well-being of players, are among the important reasons for my resignation.“I have been involved with the NRU's national group on a contract basis for eleven months.“I recently underwent surgery for a knee replacement and while I was in hospital, I received a payment of only 25% of an already cut compensation. This change was not even brought to my attention or discussed beforehand.“After I submitted my resignation, I was asked to withdraw my resignation and to apologise, which was a very strange request for me.“There are too many outstanding issues that are forward and backward, without solutions. Players do not even receive taxi fees to attend the exercises twice a day.“Only now that Rugby Africa has come up with an allowance with daily meals be provided to the players. I also had to personally conduct the negotiations so that the national group could gain access to a gym. “According to Diergaardt, the NRU also broke the initial agreement that the head coach could appoint some of his assistants.

Road to World Cup 2023 without Diergaardt

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-08

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Road to World Cup 2023 without Diergaardt

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-08

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