Namibian Rugby Union announces final 30-man squad for 2011 Rugby World Cup
The Namibian national Rugby Union team, also known as the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, has announced their final 30-man squad for their 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.
Welwitschias are the fourth nation to announce their final 30-man squad for the 2011 RWC. Earlier Canada, Italy and Argentina have already announced their squads for the world tournament.
The Namibian national Rugby Union team’s head coach, Johan Diergaardt, listed the roster in a press conference at Windhoek on Thursday, August 18.
The squad announced on Thursday, includes 13 players who have represented the African nation in the 2007 RWC at France.
Namibia is placed in Pool D of the 2011 RWC, which is also known as the pool of death. They will have to compete with the likes of the Samoa, Wales, Fiji and defending world champions South
Africa.
Namibians are still to register their first win in the RWC tournament. This is their fourth consecutive RWC appearance, after missing the inaugural three RWCs.
Namibia is one of the eight qualifying nations, who secured their place in this year’s global after going through the qualifications round.
Diergaardt has appointed Saracens back row forward Jacques Burger as the captain of the side. Other renowned players in the squad is the French club Aurrilac’s flanker, Jacques Nieuwenhuis.
Rest of the squad consists mainly of players who play their rugby at home or in neighboring South Africa.
The 2011 International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Nations Cup, was their latest international outing. They lost three encounters during the tournament.
Namibia’s final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC includes,
Backs: Johannes Bock, Chrysander Botha, Hendirk Dames, Darryl de la Harpe, Ryan de la Harpe, Eugene Janjties, Theuns Kotze, Tertius Losper, Conrad Marais, David Philander,
Llelwellyn Winkler, Daniel van Wyk, Mcgrath van Wyk, Willem van Zyl.
Forwards: Jacques Burger (captain), Egbertus O'Callerghan, Nico Esterhuyse, Hendrik Franken, Hugo Horn, Uakazuvara Kazombiaze, Rohan Kitshoff, Heinze Koll, Raol Larson, Pieters
van Lill, Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Reaud van Neel, Tinus du Plessis, Johannes Redelinghuys, Johannes du Toit, Marius Visser.
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