Namibian towering flanker Max Katjijeko has sealed a deal with Spanish Rugby Premier Division side Ordizia Rugby Elkartea, which sees the 26-year-old becoming the club’s third latest addition.

Katjijeko’s drafting to Ordizia follows hot on the heels of two other foreign signings by the club, which also recently signed South African defender Andell Loubser and Irish scrum-half Elliot Ryan.

The club, which is based in the town of Ordizia in the Basque region of northern Spain, announced Katjijeko’s arrival on its social media platforms, describing him as a "very athletic, hard-working player who is going to offer the team a lot".

 A regular campaigner for Namibia’s Welwitschias in the South African provincial Currie Cup and SuperSport Rugby Challenge competitions, Katjijeko last season played for the Olimpia Lions of Paraguay in the American Super Rugby League. 

Katjijeko, who can also be used as a lock, only made one league appearance for Olimpia Lions before the season was abruptly called off as a result of the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic. He made his test debut for Namibia in 2017 against Tunisia and represented the country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. 

Ordizia has in recent years remained one of the top rugby sides in Spain, having won that country’s Copa del Rey during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, and finished as runners-up of the Spanish Super Rugby Cup in 2012 and 2013. During the 2004/05 season, they won the Spanish First Rugby Division.

- ohembapu@nepc.com.na