Rugby champs reach climax

THE Windhoek Lager Rugby championships will reach its climax this weekend when 16 teams will battle for the coveted title which carries a cool N$40 000 prize tag for the overall winner.

The championships were held countrywide, with the regional winners now doing battle at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium tomorrow, United has a good chance, as both its A and B teams have made it to the last 16 of the competition, which has proved popular with spectators countrywide. Western Suburbs, who are organising the event after clinching a staggering N$300 000 sponsorship from the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), will only have their senior side in the final stages of the event.The first match will see Keetmanshoop taking on Ocean Swallows from 08h00, before Rehoboth will square up against Kudus.Rehoboth stand a good chance to proceed to the next stage, but their path won’t be easy, as the Kudus have developed into a formidable force.Jaguars will line up against Mariental in the next match at 09h25 – a match that can go either way.Although Jaguars are regarded as the whipping boys of the tournament, they might cause an upset with their relatively inexperienced side.Jaguars, which was established about five years ago, has lost most of its key players to top clubs, but is in the phase of rebuilding.The club has been struggling to keep a consistent record in competitions and in the domestic league.The match of the day will possibly be United A against Unam, as these teams are currently playing a good blend of rugby.Unam won in the south to go through to the final stages of the tournament and their victory was no fluke.United, which along with Wanderers are regarded as the top club, will have to psyche themselves up for the students, as they will be coming out fighting.The other matches will see Windhoek taking on Atlantis at 09h50, while Wanderers are expected to meet Swakomund at 10h15.Western Suburbs have been pitted against United B in another encounter that can swing in any team’s favour.The runners-up of the competition in the main final will receive N$20 000.There are also prizes for winners in the plate, bowl and shield finals.Western Suburbs, who are organising the event after clinching a staggering N$300 000 sponsorship from the Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), will only have their senior side in the final stages of the event.The first match will see Keetmanshoop taking on Ocean Swallows from 08h00, before Rehoboth will square up against Kudus.Rehoboth stand a good chance to proceed to the next stage, but their path won’t be easy, as the Kudus have developed into a formidable force.Jaguars will line up against Mariental in the next match at 09h25 – a match that can go either way.Although Jaguars are regarded as the whipping boys of the tournament, they might cause an upset with their relatively inexperienced side.Jaguars, which was established about five years ago, has lost most of its key players to top clubs, but is in the phase of rebuilding.The club has been struggling to keep a consistent record in competitions and in the domestic league.The match of the day will possibly be United A against Unam, as these teams are currently playing a good blend of rugby.Unam won in the south to go through to the final stages of the tournament and their victory was no fluke.United, which along with Wanderers are regarded as the top club, will have to psyche themselves up for the students, as they will be coming out fighting.The other matches will see Windhoek taking on Atlantis at 09h50, while Wanderers are expected to meet Swakomund at 10h15.Western Suburbs have been pitted against United B in another encounter that can swing in any team’s favour.The runners-up of the competition in the main final will receive N$20 000.There are also prizes for winners in the plate, bowl and shield finals.