Namibians named in all-African rugby squad

JOHANNESBURG – The first all-African rugby squad was named on yesterday to play South Africa Students at Ellis Park on Saturday.

A 23-man squad representing 12 countries will be known as the African Leopards, the African Rugby Confederation (CAR) said. Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia all have at least one player in the Leopards.”This is an important step forward as Africa is one of the most exciting areas of growth for rugby, and every African player will aspire to becoming a Leopard,” said CAR president Abdelaziz Bougja.”This pan-African team will capture the imagination of the rugby world, and it is envisaged that the African Leopards will play regularly throughout Africa and worldwide.”The Leopards, coached by Deon Davids of South Africa and Alain Hyardet of France, will play in the curtain raiser to the second Mandela Challenge Plate match between South Africa and Australia.Leopards Squad: Mhonda Munyaradsi (Botswana), Jean Emmanuel Bahoken, Arnold Tchoungong Kamga (Cameroon), Innocent Simiyu, Derrick Wamalwa (Kenya), Jacquot Hary Nirina, Ernest Rakotonasolo (Madagascar), Abdel Boutati, Hicham Housni, Jalil Narjissi (Morocco), Jan Henrik Duvenhage, Ryan De la Harpe, Hendrick Meyer (Namibia), Yogan Corea, Steve Sargos (Senegal), Mxoli Sangoni, Heinke van der Merwe (South Africa), John Lloyd (Tanzania), Kaiss Aissa, Lotfi Ben M’salem (Tunisia), Allan Musoke, John Musoke (Uganda), Neorgeyundo Armitage (Zambia).-Nampa-APBotswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia all have at least one player in the Leopards.”This is an important step forward as Africa is one of the most exciting areas of growth for rugby, and every African player will aspire to becoming a Leopard,” said CAR president Abdelaziz Bougja.”This pan-African team will capture the imagination of the rugby world, and it is envisaged that the African Leopards will play regularly throughout Africa and worldwide.”The Leopards, coached by Deon Davids of South Africa and Alain Hyardet of France, will play in the curtain raiser to the second Mandela Challenge Plate match between South Africa and Australia.Leopards Squad: Mhonda Munyaradsi (Botswana), Jean Emmanuel Bahoken, Arnold Tchoungong Kamga (Cameroon), Innocent Simiyu, Derrick Wamalwa (Kenya), Jacquot Hary Nirina, Ernest Rakotonasolo (Madagascar), Abdel Boutati, Hicham Housni, Jalil Narjissi (Morocco), Jan Henrik Duvenhage, Ryan De la Harpe, Hendrick Meyer (Namibia), Yogan Corea, Steve Sargos (Senegal), Mxoli Sangoni, Heinke van der Merwe (South Africa), John Lloyd (Tanzania), Kaiss Aissa, Lotfi Ben M’salem (Tunisia), Allan Musoke, John Musoke (Uganda), Neorgeyundo Armitage (Zambia).-Nampa-AP