Six apply for sevens coach

WINDHOEK – The position of national Sevens coach advertised in the local media last week, has attracted six Namibian applicants.

Speaking to Nampa on inquiry Wednesday, Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) chief executive officer Christo Alexander said that only three candidates will be short listed for interviews. One of the applicants is a coach in Cape Town, South Africa, Alexander said.The process will be concluded after Namibia’s encounter against Tunisia in the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Cup qualifier against Morocco on Saturday.He added that the new coach’s immediate responsibility is to take the Namibian Sevens team to George, South Africa to compete in the IRB Sevens tournament from 8 to 9 December.The successful candidate’s contract will only be decided at the forthcoming NRU’s annual general meeting scheduled later in November 2006, Alexander said.The position was advertised following the resignation of Jaco Kotze as Sevens coach after a dismal performance at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.He tendered his resignation while in Australia, said Alexander.Meyer doubtful for Tunisia clash WINDHOEK – South Africa-based rugby player Hendrick Meyer’s availability for the International Rugby Board (IRB) World cup qualifier against Morocco on Saturday at the Hage Geingob Stadium is in the balance.The match will kick off at 17h00.National Rugby Coach, Johan Venter informed Nampa Tuesday that South Africa Free State Union outfit Cheetahs is adamant to release Meyer for the Morocco match.However, the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has decide not to fight against the decision taken by Cheetahs.It is alleged that from the communication with Meyer, it looks as if the player in question has no enthusiasm to play for Namibia.Venter said with the arrival of most of the overseas players, he would work on the scrums and speed of the players.’We will play wide and running rugby, as this will definitely be a tough match,’ said Venter.Another player who will not make the starting line-up is lock Nico Esterhuizen, who is writing his final examination but is said to be available for the away match on 11 November, in Casablanca.Hadden added to Scots squad GLASGOW – Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has added English-born James Hamilton to his squad for training at Murrayfield next week as preparation intensifies for the autumn Tests.The 23-year-old Leicester lock, 6ft 8in and 19st 5lbs, qualifies for Scotland through his Glasgow-born father and impressed Hadden last season when he was part of the Barbarians squad that came to Murrayfield in May for a game the Scots won 66-19.Hadden said: “I’m keen to see how James fits in to our training programme.”He’s a big man and athletic with it and, as I’ve said already this season, competition for places is growing all the time and that’s good as we gear towards the 2007 Rugby World Cup.”Hamilton, born in Swindon, played 24 times for Leicester last season, including two Heineken Cup fixtures and was part of the England under-19 squad at the 2001 Junior World Championships in Chile.Now, however, he has decided to try to win a place in the Scotland set-up.Army to face African Leopards LONDON – The African Leopards, the continent’s developmental rugby team for players unable to represent union code giants South Africa, will play the British Army Senior XV at the Aldershot Military Stadium, near London, on November 23.”The 2006 Leopards will represent the best of rugby in Africa,” said Abdelaziz Bougja, President of the Confederation of African Rugby.”The team will draw players from nine different countries, and the match will be televised on terrestrial TV in 32 African countries.Reports by Nampa-AFP and ReutersOne of the applicants is a coach in Cape Town, South Africa, Alexander said.The process will be concluded after Namibia’s encounter against Tunisia in the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Cup qualifier against Morocco on Saturday.He added that the new coach’s immediate responsibility is to take the Namibian Sevens team to George, South Africa to compete in the IRB Sevens tournament from 8 to 9 December.The successful candidate’s contract will only be decided at the forthcoming NRU’s annual general meeting scheduled later in November 2006, Alexander said.The position was advertised following the resignation of Jaco Kotze as Sevens coach after a dismal performance at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.He tendered his resignation while in Australia, said Alexander. Meyer doubtful for Tunisia clash WINDHOEK – South Africa-based rugby player Hendrick Meyer’s availability for the International Rugby Board (IRB) World cup qualifier against Morocco on Saturday at the Hage Geingob Stadium is in the balance.The match will kick off at 17h00.National Rugby Coach, Johan Venter informed Nampa Tuesday that South Africa Free State Union outfit Cheetahs is adamant to release Meyer for the Morocco match.However, the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has decide not to fight against the decision taken by Cheetahs.It is alleged that from the communication with Meyer, it looks as if the player in question has no enthusiasm to play for Namibia.Venter said with the arrival of most of the overseas players, he would work on the scrums and speed of the players.’We will play wide and running rugby, as this will definitely be a tough match,’ said Venter.Another player who will not make the starting line-up is lock Nico Esterhuizen, who is writing his final examination but is said to be available for the away match on 11 November, in Casablanca.Hadden added to Scots squad GLASGOW – Scotland head coach Frank Hadden has added English-born James Hamilton to his squad for training at Murrayfield next week as preparation intensifies for the autumn Tests.The 23-year-old Leicester lock, 6ft 8in and 19st 5lbs, qualifies for Scotland through his Glasgow-born father and impressed Hadden last season when he was part of the Barbarians squad that came to Murrayfield in May for a game the Scots won 66-19.Hadden said: “I’m keen to see how James fits in to our training programme.”He’s a big man and athletic with it and, as I’ve said already this season, competition for places is growing all the time and that’s good as we gear towards the 2007 Rugby World Cup.”Hamilton, born in Swindon, played 24 times for Leicester last season, including two Heineken Cup fixtures and was part of the England under-19 squad at the 2001 Junior World Championships in Chile.Now, however, he has decided to try to win a place in the Scotland set-up.Army to face African Leopards LONDON – The African Leopards, the continent’s developmental rugby team for players unable to represent union code giants South Africa, will play the British Army Senior XV at the Aldershot Military Stadium, near London, on November 23.”The 2006 Leopards will represent the best of rugby in Africa,” said Abdelaziz Bougja, President of the Confederation of African Rugby.”The team will draw players from nine different countries, and the match will be televised on terrestrial TV in 32 African countries.Reports by Nampa-AFP and Reuters