PUMA South Africa yesterday signed a three year partnership agreement to become the official technical supplier of the Namibia Rugby Union.
The Namibian team meet South Africa’s Griffons in their first Vodacom Cup match this Friday in Windhoek kitted out in the new Puma gear.Puma is an international sports clothing, footwear and other accessories manufacturer and is also involved in various codes, while in rugby, it also supporters Ireland and Samoa.NRU vice president Sarel Losper yesterday said that the national team has over the years changed colours and designs on many occasions and thus created challenges off the field as supporters were never afforded to buy authentic and high quality replicas.’Through the partnership with Puma, we do not only have a new kit, but we will also be afforded the benefit to mass produce high quality replica kits for sale to the public and our supporters,’ he said.The team will have a home and away kit sponsored by Puma and Losper has urged every rugby loving Namibian to buy the replica jerseys.’Wear them with pride when we fill our stadiums in support of our players. It is time that we create a strong sense of unity in building our favourite game,’ he said.He further thanked Puma for seeing the union as an appropriate partner, adding that it will indeed create value beyond both their expectations.Meanwhile, Puma South Africa’s sponsorships manager, Grant Hamilton, said Namibia’s involvement with the company now enhances its association with rugby properties.He also announced that the national team will wear their Puma vKon rugby match kit, and will then move into the Power 10 jersey for their end of year tour to Europe.Namibia has already qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand.Namibia is grouped with South Africa, Africa’s leading rugby playing nation and second in the world after New Zealand, as well as Wales, Fiji and Samoa.Namibia is currently ranked second in Africa and 22nd in the world and will make its fourth consecutive appearance at the World Cup.This Saturday, the Namibian side will go into their first Vodacom Cup match in Windhoek against the Griffons from South Africa.The Vodacom Cup is an annual rugby union competition in South Africa which is contested between February and May. The Cup is the third-tier competition in rugby union in South Africa, behind the Super 14 and the Currie Cup. It runs at roughly the same time as the Super 14 and serves as an important developmental competition for South African rugby. It was first held in 1998, and was won in its first year by Griqualand West.Starting with the 2010 edition, the competition will also feature two teams from outside the country, one from Argentina and one from Namibia. The Argentina team, later unveiled as ‘Pampas XV’, is expected to be based in Stellenbosch and play in the competition’s southern section, while the Namibia team, to be known simply by the country’s name, will play in the northern section.The following players will represent Namibia in the competition. Forwards: Andre Vermeulen, Brandon Walters, Heinz Koll, Henk Roets, Jane du Toit, Johny Redelinghuis, Julian Botes, Morne Blom, Pieter-Jan van Nill, Renaud van Neel, Shaun Esterhuizen and Wakazuvaka Kazombiaze. Backline: Bradley Langenhoven, Chrisander Botha, Collin de Koe, Darrel de la Harpe, Eugene Jantjies, Heini Bock, Ismail du Plessis, Jacky Bock, Marcho Prinsloo, Bimbo Mbai, Sergio de la Harpe, TC Losper, Tinus Venter and Wally Winkler. corry@namibian.com.na
