Squad to be trimmed to 30 for RWC mission
Rugby
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has announced its preliminary squad of 36 players selected to prepare for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2027 Final Qualifier Tournament in Dubai (8-18 November).
Namibia, Samoa, Belgium and the winner between Brazil and Paraguay will compete for the 24th and final available spot to Australia 2027. Paraguay (world ranking 38th) on Saturday struck the first blow with a shock 39-19 home win against Brazil (28th), with the return leg this coming weekend to decide who will progress.
Johan Deysel, who played in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups and captained his country in the last two editions, recently returned to action from a brief retirement and could add to the midfield stocks at the disposal of head coach Jacques Burger.
Divan Rossouw, wing/fullback who missed the July continental qualifier through a hand injury, also received the call-up.
NRU preliminary squad
Props: Otja Auala, Joshua Bester, Aranos Coetzee, Gianluca Savoldelli, Haitembu Shikufa, Herschell van Wyk.
Hookers: Armand Combrinck, Edward Drotsky, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld.
Locks: Tiaan de Klerk, Oliver Kurz, Adriaan Ludick, Johan Retief, Johan Luttig.
Loose-forwards: Adriaan Booysen, Wian Conradie, Riaan Grové, Prince !Gaoseb, Richard Hardwick, Max Katjijeko.
Scrumhalves: Andrew James Kearns, Helarius Kisting, Jacques Theron.
Fly-halves: Cliven Loubser, Tiaan Swanepoel, Andre van der Berg.
Centres: Danco Burger, Johan Deysel, Alcino Isaacs, Le Roux Malan, Jay-Cee Nel.
Wings and full-backs: Jürgen Meyer, Aston Mukwiilongo, Divan Rossouw, Danie van der Merwe.
This preliminary group will continue preparation under the NRU’s High-Performance Program. The final 30-player traveling squad for the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Dubai will be announced on 20 October, the NRU said.
Namibia, Samoa, Belgium and the winner between Brazil and Paraguay will compete for the 24th and final available spot to Australia 2027. Paraguay (world ranking 38th) on Saturday struck the first blow with a shock 39-19 home win against Brazil (28th), with the return leg this coming weekend to decide who will progress.
Johan Deysel, who played in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups and captained his country in the last two editions, recently returned to action from a brief retirement and could add to the midfield stocks at the disposal of head coach Jacques Burger.
Divan Rossouw, wing/fullback who missed the July continental qualifier through a hand injury, also received the call-up.
NRU preliminary squad
Props: Otja Auala, Joshua Bester, Aranos Coetzee, Gianluca Savoldelli, Haitembu Shikufa, Herschell van Wyk.
Hookers: Armand Combrinck, Edward Drotsky, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld.
Locks: Tiaan de Klerk, Oliver Kurz, Adriaan Ludick, Johan Retief, Johan Luttig.
Loose-forwards: Adriaan Booysen, Wian Conradie, Riaan Grové, Prince !Gaoseb, Richard Hardwick, Max Katjijeko.
Scrumhalves: Andrew James Kearns, Helarius Kisting, Jacques Theron.
Fly-halves: Cliven Loubser, Tiaan Swanepoel, Andre van der Berg.
Centres: Danco Burger, Johan Deysel, Alcino Isaacs, Le Roux Malan, Jay-Cee Nel.
Wings and full-backs: Jürgen Meyer, Aston Mukwiilongo, Divan Rossouw, Danie van der Merwe.
This preliminary group will continue preparation under the NRU’s High-Performance Program. The final 30-player traveling squad for the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Dubai will be announced on 20 October, the NRU said.
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