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Namibian Head Coach Phil Davies has named a 31-man roster for the World Cup. The African country will compete in Pool B of Japan 2019, doing so against Canada, Italy, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Davies’ roster contains both youth and experience. Included for a fourth RWC tournament is the 67-time capped scrum half Eugene Jantjies. Meanwhile the trio of Darryl de la Harpe, Rohan Kitshoff and PJ van Lill will be playing in their third RWCs.
Namibia’s roster also contains 15 returning players from RWC 2015. Among them are captain Johan Deysel, and vice-captain Tjiuee Uanivi.
The notable absentee from Namibia’s 31-man roster is that of Renaldo Bothma. On Sunday the N8 announced his retirement from international rugby on social media.
Along side the talisman Jacques Burger, Bothma was among Namibia’s leading players at RWC 2015. It was at that RWC in which the Africans came closest to claiming a first ever RWC victory. They would go on to lose 17-16 against Georgia in Exeter.
RWC 2019 will be the sixth tournament involving the Namibians. Their target in Japan 2019 will be claiming the historic victory with a win in their match against Canada being the target. That fixture will be on the final day of the pool stage.
Namibia begin their RWC campaign on day three of the tournament. They one against Italy on Sunday, September 22 in Osaka. Their subsequent fixtures will be on Saturday, September 28 against South Africa in Toyota; Sunday, October 06 against New Zealand in Tokyo; and Sunday October 13 against Canada in Kamishi.
For complete details of Namibia’s 31-man roster click here.
NAMIBIA WORLD CUP ROSTER
FORWARDS: Andre Rademeyer, Nelius Theron, Desiderius Sethie, A J de Klerk, Johannes Coetzee, Obert Nortje, Louis van der Westhuizen, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Thomasau Forbes, Rohan Kitshoff, Max Katjijeko, Prince Gaoseb, Wian Conradie, P J van Lill, Adriaan Booysen, Janco Venter.
BACKS: Cliven Loubser, Helarius Kisting, Damian Stevens, Eugene Jantjies, Darryl de la Harpe, Johan Deysel, Justin Newman, J C Greyling, Johann Tromp, Chad Plato, Lesley Klim, Janry du Toit, P J Walters.
