Success for U-19 rugby team
The national Under-19 rugby team qualified for the International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Rugby Trophy competition after beating Kenya 52-17 at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy will be hosted in Portugal next year.
The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy is an international rugby competition organised by the sport's governing body and is contested by eight men's junior national teams with an Under-20 age requirement.
Namibia hosted the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) Under-19 championship from August 26 to 30 at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium.
Kenya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and host Namibia took part in the four-nation tournament.
In that tournament, Namibia beat Tunisia 78-3 to qualify for the finals while Kenya defeated Zimbabwe 27-20 to qualify.
On Saturday, Namibia showed their intention of representing Africa at the junior tournament by thrashing Kenya.
Namibia scored their first try in the fourth minute through team captain Christopher Arries.
In the 10th minute, flanker Cameron McNab scored the second try while Arries converted most of the kicks.
Before half-time, Namibia scored three more tries through Divan Rossouw and two tries from Milaan van Wyk.
Kenya managed to score two unconverted tries through their captain Jeffrey Oluoch and Oscar Nyongesa to take the half-time score to 35-10.
In the second half Namibian captain Arries was replaced by Henrique Olivier after picking up a knee injury towards the end of the first half.
But Namibia continued their dominance running in three more tries through Breedt Hans Jakob, Divan Russouw and Johannes Retief.
Wildre Smith made the conversions.
Kenya scored their try in the game’s stoppage time through Nelson Sangura. Marlin Akoolo converted the kick to take the final score to 52-17.
Speaking to the media after the game, Namibia’s U-19 head coach Roger Thompson said his team was hungry for success.“We started very well, but after we lost our captain in the first half the team lost their momentum,†he said.
“Kenya was too physical but I am glad we qualified for the tournament. This was a good preparation for the team,†said Thompson.
He added that before the junior world rugby trophy, they will strengthen the team with some of the Under-19 senior team players who did not play in the game against Kenya.
Arries, who is the Under-19 rugby team captain, said even though he was injured in the first half his teammates played very well.
“The coach prepared the team very well, and I am glad we made it through to the next round. But we will need to shape up for the tournament in Portugal,†said Arries.
In the third place playoff, Zimbabwe beat Tunisia 52-21. -NAMPA
WINDHOEK–HESRON KAPANGA
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