Ongos series to kickstart revival of sevens code
Sevens rugby
The southern round of the Ongos Valley Sevens Rugby Series regional competition takes place in Keetmanshoop on Saturday. Keetmanshoop Rams is hosting the opening round of the series of three tournaments. The hosts will be joined by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Ocean Swallows from Lüderitz and Oranjemund with the official opening set for 11:30.
A program of 14 matches will follow, inclusive of the two semi-finals (15:10 - 15:30), the third-place playoff (16:10) and the final (16:30).
Abed Erastus, the PRO of Ongos Valley Development, urged fans to pitch in numbers and called on the players to make the tournament a memorable occasion. “Go out and express yourselves. Play hard running rugby and enjoy your time on the pitch.”
The series will then move on to Swakopmund on 28 September, with matches to be hosted by Dolphin Rugby Club.
A women’s tournament will also form part of the activities on Friday 4 October, with the men’s series concluding at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on 5 October.
“Gone are the days when everything only happened in central Namibia,” said John Heynes, the CEO of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU).
“We are now taking rugby to other regions and will continue to do that to the best of our ability. The agreement with Ongos is in place for the next five years and the sponsorship amount for this period is just shy of N$5 million. It covers the tournament arrangement, including the competition's overall prize pot amounting to N$100 000 and logistics.”
According to Heynes, the Ongos Valley Sevens Rugby Series is of huge importance for the union to revive this format of the game. “It will enhance our rugby structures overall. Most of the players that play as utility backs for the top rugby playing nations, have also played high-level sevens rugby.”
Heyns emphasised that opportunities in the sevens code are limited and he urged clubs and players to embrace the Ongos series.
"Clubs should see this as a platform to propel their players to participate at national level. It allows every player in Namibia to showcase his or her talent and come into contention for national team selection, because we will be back on the national sevens scene in 2025. The Ongos Valley series is thus a crucial component of sevens rugby in Namibia. Let us make the tournament a success.”
Uphill African challenge
One of the last times the Namibian national team was in action, was at the 2019 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Johannesburg.
The team competed to qualify directly for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with David Philander as the head coach, finishing the tournament in a relatively solid fifth place.
The 2019 team consisted of Cameron Langenhoven (captain), Tuna Amutenya, Elmarco Beukes, Adriaan Booysen, Peter Diergaardt, Max Katjijeko, Gerswin Mouton, Aurelio Plato, Chad Plato, Carlton Stevens, Shareave Titus, Peter-John Walters.