Namibia will begin their 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification campaign tomorrow when they face Belgium in the first of three crucial last qualifier matches in Dubai. Kick-off is scheduled for 17h30.

Head coach Pieter Rossouw has announced a strong and well-balanced squad for the encounter, led by captain Louis van der Westhuizen, with Danco Burger serving as vice-captain. The team will be aiming to deliver a commanding performance as they seek to conclude the qualification series on a positive note after weeks of intense preparation.

The director of Rugby Jacques Burger expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, highlighting the progress made during their recent training sessions and the lessons learned from their international friendly game against South Africa’s Boland Kavaliers. 

“It’s been a good couple of days. We’ve done some really valuable work and taken a lot of positives from the Boland Kavaliers match. We’re now looking forward to the challenge ahead,” he said.

Captain Louis van der Westhuizen shared similar enthusiasm, praising the team’s preparation and spirit. “Preparations went really well, and the warm-up game was a massive bonus for us. We performed well and had the opportunity to field two teams, which gave everyone valuable game time. I’m glad we had that chance,” he said.

Reflecting on his leadership role, van der Westhuizen described captaining Namibia as a great honour. “Being captain is a privilege. This is my country and my pride. I love this place, and running out in front of the team is something special. Hopefully, I can lead the boys to victory,” he added.

Namibia will then face Samoa on 13 November and then Brazil on 18 November.

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na