Coach Allister takes stock with a view to 2027
Rugby
Namibia is most certainly one of the nations entering a significant transition phase as its four-year cycle from the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France until Australia 2027 takes shape. National team coach Allister Coetzee confirmed that he was still in talks with several senior players from recent years about their availability.
“I am not 100 percent sure (regarding retirements) except for Pieter-Jan (PJ) van Lill who has made public that he has had his time and is forever thankful for his career with Namibia rugby.
“I think a player like Johan Deysel (centre) has also come to this decision.
“Players such as JC Greyling (wing), Casper Viviers (prop) and Tjiuee Uanivi (lock or flank) are also sitting in between, wondering if there is still a year or two of playing left in them. Nothing official or formal has come to the Union from their side yet.”
Van Lill (40) was a lock and loose forward in the Rugby World Cup squads at the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments. He joined former scrumhalf Eugene Jantjies as the only Namibian to have appeared in four tournaments.
Deysel (32) has captained Namibia since 2018 and represented the country alongside national test try-scoring record holder Greyling (32), Uanivi (33) and Viviers (36) at the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
Since his recent departure from Colomiers and return to Windhoek, Deysel has recently played for FNB Wanderers and was named in the preliminary national squad, although it is understood he has had minimal involvement thus far.
Both hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld (36) and tighthead prop Aranos Coetzee (36) are also veterans of three World Cups each and although they were not directly mentioned by the coach, it is generally expected that their involvement as test players will be drawing to a close.
On social media, Van Jaarsveld on 4 June posted a farewell message to his French club Mont de Marsan, without revealing any indication on his future plans.
Aranos Coetzee, who after the 2023 World Cup in France had a minor knee operation, still played for the Cheetahs against Griquas on 17 May at the SA Cup farewell match of former Springbok Ruan Pienaar.
Along with last weekend’s setback for FNB Wanderers hooker Obert Nortje, who left the field against FNB Unam with an intercostal muscle injury, there will be plenty of positions in which the selection options are up for discussion.
Approach to the future
Coetzee emphasised that the process of becoming a national team player would change going forward.
“If a player would like to represent Namibia at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, you must be part of the new team building phase from the very beginning.”
He explained that the first phase involves being part of the test against Portugal and the Africa Cup tournament in Uganda following shortly after that.
“There is always an argument about certain players being allowed to come back (into the setup) when there is a World Cup. I want to get that out of the way. From the onset you have to be part of the new direction we are taking.”
Coetzee acknowledged that some players might have valid reasons why they won’t be involved in the July test period.
Leadership
The head coach's contract has been extended following the previous World Cup, with former World Cup players Rohan Kitshoff and Chrysander Botha as his assistants. Sergio de la Harpe is the conditioning coach and Tanya Green is the physiotherapist.
“We have a capable staff complement that can start working and handle what needs to be done. The Union has appointed a team manager whose identity will soon be revealed. We will then have a full component of the management team.”
The newspaper has since learnt that Wessel Kotze has been appointed as team manager and that he was introduced to the national squad this week.
Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia has been expanded to 24 teams after the World Rugby Council approved the historic reimagination of the competition format, window and timing.
• The NRU announced that the deadline for match tickets at early-bird discounts have been extended to 14 June. Book your seat for Windhoek Beer Welwitschias vs Vodacom Blue Bulls (29 June) and Namibia vs Portugal (13 July) online at eticket.my.na