World Cup momentum

Namibia's senior national rugby team is in South Africa for high-intensity training ahead of the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on 20 September.Friendly warm-up matches against the Sharks and Southern Kings have also been confirmed.The team is focused on finalising their preparations to a level that will see Namibia attempting to make history at the World Cup and secure their first win.Namibia will play in Pool B in Japan alongside Italy, South Africa, defending champions New Zealand and Canada. They will play their first match against Italy on 22 September. Their second match will be against a rejuvenated South Africa on 28 September. New Zealand will be their third opponents on 6 October. Canada and Namibia will then clash on 13 October in their last group match. Head coach Phil Davies has divided the 50-man training squad into two groups, the Kaizen squad and the Durban squad.The Durban squad will play a friendly against the Sharks on Saturday.There will be another friendly on 31 August against the Isuzu Southern Kings in Windhoek, followed by a second match in Walvis Bay on the 7 September. “We have split the training squad into two categories, in order to give ourselves the best opportunity and extended time to select Namibia's strongest squad for Japan,” Davies said.He added the Kaizen squad remains in contention for World Cup selection. The final squad will be announced on 2 September. There is now less than a month to go before the Japan World Cup. The much-anticipated tournament will see the very best in the world battling out for the Webb Ellis Cup.New Zealand have won the tournament thrice, while the Springboks and Australia sit on two wins each and England one.Namibia's place at the prestigious tournament was secured for a sixth consecutive time after they beat Kenya 53-28 last year at the Hage Geingob Stadium.“It was a fantastic day, as the players earned Namibia the right to take part in the biggest rugby union tournament in the world,” said Davies. The Durban squad is as follows: Max Katjijeko, Renaldo Bothma, Prince !Gaoseb, Wian Conradie, PJ van Lill, Adriaan Booysen, Janco Venter, Rohan Kitshoff, Cliven Loubser, Helarius Kisting, Damian Stevens, PW Steenkamp, Eugene Jantjies, JC Winkler, Darryl de la Harpe, Justin Newman, Johan Deysel, JC Greyling, Johann Tromp, Chrysander Botha, Chad Plato, Lesley Klim, Oderich Mouton, Dumarcho Hartung and PJ Walters, Andre Rademeyer, Nelius Theron, Casper Viviers, Desiderius Sethie, AJ de Klerk, Aranos Coetzee, Obert Nortje, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Tjiuee Uanivi, Ruan Ludick, Johan Retief and Thomasau Forbes.The Kaizen squad consists of: Simon Kanime, Mahepisa Tjeriko, Gino Wilson, Russel van Wyk, Thomas Kali, Graham April, Adriaan Ludick, Mahco Prinsloo, Neil van Vuuren, Janry du Toit and Jason Benade.LIMBA MUPETAMI

World Cup momentum

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-15

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World Cup momentum

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-15

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