Namibia’s rugby 15s will use tomorrow’s Stellenbosch Rugby Challenge final against the Sables of Zimbabwe as a sharpening tool ahead of next year’s final qualifying round for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Welwitschias last weekend kicked off their four-nations Stellenbosch Rugby Challenge campaign with an emphatic 60-24 win over Kenya, which saw them progressing smoothly to the final against Zimbabwe, who narrowly defeated Brazil 24-22 to reach the final.

Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, who are all fighting for a spot at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, are using the Stellenbosch event as a preparatory tournament for next year’s final
round of World Cup qualifiers.

The tournament is sanctioned by World Rugby, and also contributes to the participants’ overall world rankings. Brazil, which is the only non-African participant at this preparatory tournament, is also seeking qualification to the 2023 Rugby World Cup through the Americas’ regional qualifiers, where they are vying against Chile, Paraguay and Colombia.

After the opening win against Kenya, Welwitschias’ gaffer Allister Coetzee expressed great delight with the team’s overall composure, and how the players managed to execute their game plan despite a slow start. He indicated that the approach against Zimbabwe will more or less be the same, as the Zimbabweans are a very physical and experienced side. Kenya and Brazil will be first to take to the field at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport for the bronze-medal match.

All teams have been staying at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, where the organisers have been enforcing strict Covid-19 protocols. The teams are in a bio-secure bubble system, where they are all getting tested twice a day to eliminate any risk of contracting the virus. - ohembapu@nepc.com.na