Namibia’s senior national rugby team, the Welwitschias, led by captain Prince !Gaoseb, will take to the field this Saturday in a high-stakes international friendly against Uganda.
The match will be played at Naartjie Park, Walvis Bay, kicking off at 15h00, and serves as crucial preparation ahead of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup – scheduled for 6 to 20 July in Uganda.
The Rugby Africa Cup will determine which African nation secures a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. For Namibia, a nation with a proud rugby tradition, this friendly encounter marks the beginning of a long but determined campaign to return to the global stage.
The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) has strategically chosen Walvis Bay as the venue to bring top-tier rugby to fans beyond the capital, Windhoek. The match, to be held at Walvis Bay Private School, is expected to draw crowds from across the Erongo region.
Director of Rugby Jacques Burger, a former national captain and veteran of three World Cups, has called on local supporters to show up in numbers.
“We need our fans in the stands. Their energy lifts the players – it makes a real difference,” he said.
Echoing this, star player Alcino Isaacs described June as a critical month on the African rugby calendar.
“All African teams are actively preparing, and this is the time we need Namibians behind us. Fill the stands and support your team,” Isaacs urged.
The friendly against Uganda is one of three key fixtures lined up for the month of June: on 21 June, Namibia will play Airlink Pumas (Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek) and on 27 June, Namibia will face Italy (Hage Geingob Stadium).
Just like the Namibians, the Ugandans also have an active period. The first stop will be a test match against Namibia this weekend. The team will then travel to Modimolle, originally named Nylstroom, South Africa, for a five-day training camp (from 16 to 19 June) before facing the Limpopo Blue Bulls on 21 June.
The final leg will take place in Nelspruit, where the team will hold a four-day camp (23 to 26 June), culminating in a friendly against the Pumas on 27 June.
A 36-man squad has been named for the tour. The first 24 players will travel to Namibia, with the remaining 12 joining the team in South Africa the following week. -lmupetami@nepc.com.na
The Namibian squad
Otja Auala, Armand Combrinck, Haitembu Shikufa, Oliver Kurz, Johan Luttig, Prince !Gaoseb (captain), Max Katjikjeko, Adriaan Booysen, Jacques Theron, Godwin Silvanus, Quirione Majiedt, Danco Burger, Alcino Isaacs, Jurgen Meyer, Aston Mukwiilongo
Reserves: Gerhard Thirion, Jason Benade, Sidney Halupe, Riaan Grove, Peter Diergaardt, AJ Kearns, Danie van der Merwe, Manfred Garoeb, Owen Havanga.
Travelling substitute: Andre van den Berg
Uganda rugby cranes squad
Forwards: Santos Ssentenza, Edward Emiemu, Fahad Maido, Julius Opio, Sidney Gyobi Gogodyo, Frank Kidega, Byron Oketayot, Pius Ogena, Nathan Asiimire Bwambale, Blair Ayebazibwe, Saul Kivumbi, Eliphaz Emong, Brian Wandera, Frank Evans Kakula, Michael Steve Masendi Otto, Moses Zziwa, Emmanuel Luminsa Kiyaga, Simon Peter Olet, Desire Ayera
Backs: Conrad Wanyama Wandera, Yasin Smith Wasswa, Shakim Ssembusi, Justin Kimono Simwende, Thomas Gwokto, Ivan Otema, Timothy Kisiga, Aaron Ofyorwoth, Liam Christopher Walker, Joseph Aredo Jadwong, William Nkore Ampeire, Nicholas Kato, Arnold Mananu, lan Arnold Munyani, Adrian Kasito, Haruna Muhammed, Isaac Massanganzira.