Strong MLR presence in Namibia squad for November tests

Five players who took part in the 2021 Major League Rugby season have been named in Namibia’s squad for their upcoming test series. Head coach Allister Coetzee has named 28 players to prepare for their match against Kenya on November 14, with one of Zimbabwe or Brazil to follow on November 20.

Seattle hooker Obert Nortjé, loose forwards Adriaan Booysen and Wian Conradie from Houston and New England respectively, NOLA scrumhalf Damian Stevens, and Utah flyhalf Cliven Loubser are all included. Conradie has since moved to Gloucester in the English Premiership while Stevens is currently playing for Russian side Strela Kazan on a short-term deal before returning to the Gold in the new year.

There are 15 players who return from the 2019 World Cup squad, among them captain Johan Deysel who plays his club rugby for Colomiers in France. Also notable is the return of former skipper Renaldo Bothma after a three-year hiatus. His absence in Japan was left unexplained by coach at the time Phil Davies.

Eight uncapped players are included, all but one playing for local amateur clubs. Midfielder Danco Burger is the exception.  A standout for the University of Free State Shimlas in South Africa’s Varsity Cup, the 23-year-old has most recently been suiting up for Polish club Orkan Sochaczew.

Namibia suffered a shock defeat to the Ivory Coast in July but remain favorites to qualify as Africa 1 for Rugby World Cup 2023. They are one of eight teams entered in the 2022 Africa Cup that will be hosted by France in a straight knock-out format next July.

PROP
Jason Benade (United) – 4 caps
Chemigan Beukes (Western Suburbs) – uncapped
Aranos Coetzee (Cheetahs, SA) – 24 caps
Gerhard Opperman (United) – uncapped
Herschell van Wyk (Wanderers) – uncapped

HOOKER
Frikkie Engelbrecht (Grootfontein) – uncapped
Obert Nortjé (Seattle Seawolves, US) – 19 caps
Louis van der Westhuizen (Cheetahs, SA) – 21 caps

LOCK
Max Katjijeko (Ordizia, ES) – 17 caps
Johan Retief (Leopards, SA) – 12 caps
PJ van Lill (Valence Romans, FR) – 53 caps

BACK ROW
Adriaan Booysen (Houston SaberCats, US) – 9 caps
Renaldo Bothma (Tel Aviv Heat, IL) – 17 caps
Wian Conradie (Gloucester, UK) – 19 caps
Johan Luttig (Grootfontein) – 1 cap
Janco Venter (Saracens, UK) – 28 caps

SCRUMHALF
TC Kisting (Baia Mare, RO) – 13 caps
Damian Stevens (Strela Kazan, RU) – 27 caps
Jacques Theron (Wanderers) – uncapped

FLYHALF
Cliven Loubser (Utah Warriors, US) – 17 caps
Henrique Olivier (Rehoboth) – 1 cap

CENTER
Danco Burger (Orkan Sochaczew, PL) – uncapped
Johan Deysel (capt., Colomiers, FR) – 26 caps
JC Greyling (Wanderers) – 35 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Jayden Bussel (Rehoboth) – uncapped
Lorenzo Louis (UNAM) – uncapped
Oderich Mouton (UNAM) – 3 caps
Johann Tromp (Strela Kazan, RU) – 45 caps