Youth rugby teams sent off with high hopes
Schools rugby
The school holiday tours to take on South African rugby weeks commence today.
The Namibia under-16 rugby team received a rousing send-off on their way to the SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week starting at Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The team, captained by Pro-Ed Academy lock JJ Fourie, will face South West Districts (SWD) will play their opening match today at 13:40.
Thursday’s official capping send-off at the Hage Geingob Stadium event marked an exciting moment for the young athletes and their supporters.
Head coach Morné Rust (Walvis Bay Private School) expressed his confidence in the Under-16 team, highlighting the significant opportunity the platform provides for exposure. Rust envisions some of these boys continuing to climb the ladder through the U18 ranks and even advancing to the senior national team in the future.
The team list includes JJ Fourie (Pro-Ed Academy) as the captain and lock, while fullback Carter Loubser (Whk Affies) has been replaced by Jaydrian Jansen (Whk Gymnasium) after sustaining an injury during training.
The rest of the starting squad for the first match are 14 Alvandro Diergaardt (Pro-Ed Academy), 13 Handre Cocklin (Whk Gym), 12 JD Jankowitz (Whk Gym), 11 Drikus Maartens (Edugate), 10 Sergio Pamplin (De Duine), 9 Dirkie Lochner (Keetmanshoop Private School), 8 Jandre Burger (Whk Gym), 7 Tjeruka Tueutjiua (Donatus SS), 6 Louis de Wet (Whk Gym), 5 Isaiah Kazandovi (WHS), 3 Johan van Wyk (WBPS), 2 MJ de Villiers (WBPS), and 1 Cashton Cloete (WHS).
The bench players are Eduardo Dunn (Dr Lemmer), Milan Marais (WBPS), Gert Pretorius (Whk Gym), Ruhan Boonzaaier (WBPS), Bootje Booysen (Elnatan), Jade Langenhoven (De Duine), Pedri Lacante (Tsumeb Gymnasium), and Liam Kittler (WBPS).
The coaching staff for the Under-16 team are head coach Morné Rust (WBPS), assistant coach Fernaldt Bock (Dr. Lemmer HS), strength and conditioning coach Zaynor Platt (WHS), and team manager Rialdo van Wyk (M&K Gertze HS).
The NSSR executives expressed deep gratitude towards their sponsors Khan River Lodge, Seawork, Calle's Game Lodge, Sentrum Apteek and Xco Group, as well as parents that contributed.
Team members received an extensive range of traveling gear including tracksuits, golf shirts, T-shirts, shorts, hoodies and bags, as well as their playing kits. The Under-16 team departed for Port Elizabeth on Saturday at 10:00 AM.
Primary schools U13 showpiece
Simultaneously, the Namibia Under-13 team also had their send-off at Windhoek Gymnasium on Thursday.
Coached by Brian Titus, the team had their final training session on Friday before flying to Pretoria on Saturday for the U13 Craven Week, which runs from today until Friday 21 June. Their first match, the customary “unofficial test” against Zimbabwe, is scheduled for today at 08:00.
Parkies hooker Jean Botha has been named to captain the team.
The Namibia starting team for the first match (15-1): Keithen Humphries (vice-captain, Hoeksteen Primary, Rosh Pinah), Rijk Duvenhage (Walvis Bay Private School), Ryan Steyn (Whk Gymnasium), Rylan Simpson (Pionierspark), Adrian van der Westhuizen (Orban), Jacques Bruwer (Whk Gymnasium), Cayden Klazen (Whk Gymnasium), Potjoje Mukuahima (Pionierspark), Eric Quest (Pionierspark), Ruben Kotze (Whk Gymnasium), Vikapita Mbaisa (Pionierspark), Ngarukue Kamunguma (Pionierspark), Tiaan du Plessis (Whk Affies), Jean Botha (captain, Pionierspark) and Jayden Beukes (Ruimte).
The replacements are Michael Muller (Pro-Ed Academy), Conroy van Wyk (Whk Gymnasium), Gavin Isaaks (St. Joseph’s Primary, Rehoboth), Jaydin Coakley (St. Joseph’s), Wehan Groenewald (Walvis Bay Private School), Kian Janse van Rensburg (Whk Affies), Denilo Potgieter (Pionierspark), and Cayden Visser (Elnatan).
The U13s are accompanied by head coach Brian Titus (St. Joseph’s), assistant coach Mauritz Thirion (Whk Gymnasium) and team manager Ernest Groenewald (Orban).