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Namibia will play two matches against the Southern Kings as part of their preparations for the Rugby World Cup. The first will take place at their normal home of Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on August 31, the second on September 7 at the coastal location of Walvis Bay High School.
The Kings finished second from the bottom during the 2018-19 Guinness Pro 14 season, ahead of only Italian side Zebre. One of two South African teams in the otherwise European club competition, the Kings are based out of Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape.
Having already confirmed a 50-man extended training squad, the two matches will be played after head coach Phil Davies confirms his final 31-man traveling roster for Japan. Two high profile players he had hoped to recruit for the tournament – Worcester lock Anton Bresler and Bulls fullback Divan Rossouw – have declined the invitation.
Davies has added former Welsh internationals Dale McIntosh and Mark Jones as defense and attack coach, respectively. Both join from Welsh Premiership clubs – McIntosh from Merthyr and Jones from RGC 1404. Former Namibia prop Jaco Engels is in charge of the set piece.
The World Cup will see Namibia competing in Pool B along with Canada, Italy, New Zealand, and South Africa. Their most recent international matches were during the Nations Cup in June where they finished in 4th place, winning one of three matches.
