Saracens loose-forward Jacques Burger will captain Namibia against Canada on 7 November in the first of three matches on their tour of the UK and Europe.
National coach Danie Vermeulen has named six new caps, including Free State Cheetahs captain and hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld, in his squad of 29 players.
The other five players who will make their debut for the Welwitschias are prop Franklin Bertolini of United, hooker Niel Rautenbach of Western Province, centre JC Greyling of Wesley Old Boys in Ireland, Tjiuee Uanivi of Brive in France and Russel van Wyk of Unam.
The squad, scheduled to leave for Wales on 2 November, has a wealth of talent in the loose-forward department. Spearheaded by Burger, who captained Namibia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, coach Vermeulen will also be able to draw on the experience of Western Province’s Rohan Kitshoff, PJ van Lill doing duty for Dax in France, and former Wasps back rower Tinus du Plessis.
In total the squad features four players involved in the Currie Cup and four based in France, as well as two players with experience in the Aviva Premiership, namely Burger and Chrysander Botha who plays for the Exeter Chiefs. The balance of the squad is made up of players based in Namibia.
Burger will captain the squad in the opening match against Canada at Colwyn Bay before returning to club duties at Saracens. Rohan Kitshoff will then lead the team in the two remaining matches against the French Barbarians and Portugal.
Vermeulen, a former Namibian international, named his squad after trials held in Windhoek and a series of training camps in the Namibian capital.
“We have talented players locally but these players need more exposure to rugby at a higher level. The quality of our club rugby needs to improve before we can expect these players to move from club to professional rugby and that gap is just too big,” Vermeulen said.
Namibia suffered a major setback when South African based loose-forward Renaldo Bothma was ruled out of the touring party, after suffering a broken cheek bone in the Pumas’ penultimate Currie Cup match.
Vermeulen was also excited by the inclusion of 24-year-old lock Tjiuee Uanivi who plays for Brive in France.
“I have had the privilege of coaching him since he left school and always knew that someday he would play for Namibia. He is a very good line-out jumper, on his own as well as on the oppositions’ ball,” he said.
The Welwitschias have also received a major boost to their depth in the hooker department with the inclusion of Western Province’s Niel Rautenbach and Free State Cheetahs’ captain Torsten van Jaarveld.
Vermeulen said the 27-year-old Van Jaarsveld will add massive value to the national team.
“He is a strong scrummager and his line-out work is outstanding. He can also play as loose forward and is currently captain of the Cheetahs which shows he has strong leadership qualities.”
The inclusion of both Van Jaarsveld and Rautenbach is subject to the individuals obtaining the required travel document before the team departs for the UK on 2 November.
The Namibia Rugby Union meanwhile announced that prior to their European tour, Namibia will play Germany in a friendly international at Trustco United’s field on Wednesday, 29 October.
Namibia squad to tour Europe: (*) denotes new caps.
Forwards: Rathony Becker (Hooker – Western Suburbs), Franklin Bertholini * (Prop – United), Mornè Blom (Lock – Wanderers), Jacques Burger (Flank – Saracens), Tinus du Plessis (Flank – Wanderers), Jaco Engels (Prop – United), Nico Esterhuyse (Lock – Wanderers), Thomasua Forbes (Flank – Western Suburbs ) Rohan Kitshoff (Flank – Western Province), Niel Rautenbach (Hooker – Western Province), Johnnie Redelinghuys (Prop – Wanderers), Andre Schlechter (Prop – Wanderers), PJ van Lill (Loose forward – Dax, France), Tjiuee Uanivi *(Lock – Brive, France), Casper Viviers (Prop – Saint Naziere, France) and Torsten van Jaarsveld * (Hooker – Free State Cheetahs.)
Backs:
Chrysander Botha (Fullback – Exeter Chiefs), Eneill Buitendag (Scrumhalf – Wanderers), Danie Dames (Wing – Griquas), Darryl de la Harpe (Centre – Western Suburbs), Ryan de la Harpe (Scrumhalf – Fylde, England), Johan Deysel (Centre – Leopards), JC Greyling * (Centre – Old Wesley, Ireland), Shaun Kaizemi (Flyhalf – Western Suburbs), Theuns Kotze (Flyhalf – Bourge-en-Bresse, France), Malcolm Moore (Wing/Centre – Wanderers), David Philander (Centre – Spotswood United, New Zealand), Johan Tromp (Wing – Wanderers) and Russel van Wyk * (Wing/Fullback – University of Namibia).
Namibia’s fixtures :
29 October, Windhoek v Germany
07 November, Colwyn Bay v Canada
14 November, Toulon v French Barbarians
21 November, Lisbon v Portugal
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