NRU to rebuild following World Cup qualification failure

The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) acknowledges that failing to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup has damaged confidence in the sport. Despite this, they insist rugby remains stable as a long-term rebuilding process gets underway.

Speaking at a press conference in Windhoek recently, NRU vice president Johan Diergaardt rejected claims that Namibian rugby is in decline. He said the union is shifting focus toward development and sustainability, moving away from years of operating under the constant pressure of World Cup cycles.

“Trust, as we all know, is earned,” Diergaardt said. “I don’t think not qualifying for the World Cup means there is no more trust in rugby. What we need to do now is start building, start creating a new culture and develop new players.”

Diergaardt confirmed that many players involved in the recent qualification campaign will not be available for the next cycle, prompting the union to reset its national pathways.

“What we are creating is a new pathway,” he said. “The under-20s are back, we will still take part in the Victoria Cup in June and rugby will go on as in the past.”

The NRU has also acknowledged the financial impact of missing out on a World Cup qualification, which resulted in reduced World Rugby high-performance funding. Diergaardt said the union is now engaging the government and sponsors to sustain its programmes.

“It’s no secret that if you don’t qualify, it affects immediate World Rugby funding,” he said.

“But we have been engaging the government since 2023, we’ve built trust through reporting and accountability, and we are now in the process of confirming what funding will be available so we can distribute it to the programmes that need it.”

Diergaardt added that the NRU will not release its internal post-qualification review report in full, arguing that public blame-shifting would be counterproductive.

“We know what went wrong, but do we want to throw players or coaches under the bus? I don’t think that’s the right way,” he said. “We know where the problems are and how to fix them.”

NRU chief executive John Heynes said despite criticism from the public and former players, the union is focused on unity and the future rather than apportioning blame.

“Are we upset about not qualifying? Yes. But we are moving forward. We are not going to blame X, Y or Z. We have a programme, and we are going to implement it,” he said.

He outlined how the rebuilding process will place greater emphasis on grassroots development and school rugby, acknowledging that teachers are often overstretched.

“We know that teachers are being thrown in the deep end to run sport programmes,” Heynes said. “That’s why we are launching an ‘Adopt a School’ programme, working with clubs across regions to support schools with coaching resources.”

Heynes added that the NRU has signed an agreement with the Namibia Schools Sport Union to expand rugby programmes across both primary and secondary schools this year.

On the high-performance front, Diergaardt said World Rugby has not completely withdrawn support and that some structures will remain in place.

“World Rugby did not entirely pull the plug,” he said. “They will ensure we still have a full-time strength and conditioning coach, so we are not stopping everything.”

He confirmed that the NRU will seek to appoint a new head coach and that a short-term consultant from South Africa will assist local coaches and help strengthen club rugby systems.

Diergaardt also acknowledged that the qualification failure was “a bitter pill” but said it has created an opportunity to reassess the entire rugby system.

“This is the first time in our rugby history that we can look at all our programmes and not just be caught up in qualifying for a World Cup,” he said.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. Allow this Rome to be built, and hold us accountable in the next cycle,” said Heynes.

The media briefing concluded with the union stating that it will no longer engage with unverified commentary on social media, saying all official communication will be issued through NRU platforms and accredited media channels.

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