Support the underdogs
National rugby coach Phil Davies says that locally-based players are the heartbeat of the team and need support from everyone.
Davis said that despite the evident losing streak of the Namibian Rugby team, locally-based players remain the backbone of the team and with the strategic plan drawn up by the National Rugby Union; the dream to reach greater heights is on the horizon.
At a press conference last Thursday, Davies said despite other commitments, the players are committed to develop the team.
Davies also informed journalists of the strategic long-term plan drawn up for the players en route to the World Cup qualifiers.
According to Davies, the Namibia Rugby Union is working hard to implement its High Performance Plan to reach its 2019 goals.
Namibia is in a tough group that will face Spain, Russia and Italy at the Nations Cup to be held in Uruguay next month.
Davies says Namibia has the potential to win the tournament if they focus on the plan.
The High Performance Plan includes four strategic focus areas, which are; a pathway from club rugby to international rugby; growing the game locally; setting up a national academy, and forming partnerships locally and internally to grow the game.
Its strategic outcomes include bridging the gap between club rugby and Currie Cup rugby; increasing the number of players; implementing a fully-functional national academy, building local capacity and knowledge, and promoting skills transfer.
He also said the union hopes to accomplish its goals by incorporating school rugby players, identifying potential players at an early age and by supporting its players.
He says the union is also looking for talented players from the northern regions of the country.
Davies says the union has been receiving assistance from Wales. “We have a video analyst from Wales who is sharing knowledge with a Namibian analyst.
“He is [assisting with] building capacity, sharing knowledge and the transfer of skills and after the next World Cup, Namibia will hopefully have its own management team,” Davies said.
“We do this so that as a team and as a country we achieve pride and identity, in order to win a game we need to live and stick to the standards we are implementing,” he says.
Regarding next month's Nations Cup in Uruguay, he said they tried to give the local-based players more exposure, “We have 16 overseas players and 12 home-based players in the squad.
We are trying to give young players an opportunity and we want to create a pool of players. We are trying to balance the team and give supporters a great rugby experience”.
Besides the Nations Cup, the national team will also play five matches in the Africa Cup against Senegal, Zimbabwe and Kenya at home, and Tunisia and Uganda in matches outside Namibia.
Limba Mupetami
At a press conference last Thursday, Davies said despite other commitments, the players are committed to develop the team.
Davies also informed journalists of the strategic long-term plan drawn up for the players en route to the World Cup qualifiers.
According to Davies, the Namibia Rugby Union is working hard to implement its High Performance Plan to reach its 2019 goals.
Namibia is in a tough group that will face Spain, Russia and Italy at the Nations Cup to be held in Uruguay next month.
Davies says Namibia has the potential to win the tournament if they focus on the plan.
The High Performance Plan includes four strategic focus areas, which are; a pathway from club rugby to international rugby; growing the game locally; setting up a national academy, and forming partnerships locally and internally to grow the game.
Its strategic outcomes include bridging the gap between club rugby and Currie Cup rugby; increasing the number of players; implementing a fully-functional national academy, building local capacity and knowledge, and promoting skills transfer.
He also said the union hopes to accomplish its goals by incorporating school rugby players, identifying potential players at an early age and by supporting its players.
He says the union is also looking for talented players from the northern regions of the country.
Davies says the union has been receiving assistance from Wales. “We have a video analyst from Wales who is sharing knowledge with a Namibian analyst.
“He is [assisting with] building capacity, sharing knowledge and the transfer of skills and after the next World Cup, Namibia will hopefully have its own management team,” Davies said.
“We do this so that as a team and as a country we achieve pride and identity, in order to win a game we need to live and stick to the standards we are implementing,” he says.
Regarding next month's Nations Cup in Uruguay, he said they tried to give the local-based players more exposure, “We have 16 overseas players and 12 home-based players in the squad.
We are trying to give young players an opportunity and we want to create a pool of players. We are trying to balance the team and give supporters a great rugby experience”.
Besides the Nations Cup, the national team will also play five matches in the Africa Cup against Senegal, Zimbabwe and Kenya at home, and Tunisia and Uganda in matches outside Namibia.
Limba Mupetami
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