Namibia name 50-man World Cup Training Squad

Welwitschias head coach Danie Vermeulen has named a 50-man training squad for this year’s Rugby World Cup. Included are 27 players currently involved in the World Rugby Nations Cup in Romania in addition to a total of 11 players who are yet to be capped.

Capped 43 times prop Johnny Redelinghuys is the most experienced Welwitschia and, if selected in the final squad, will appear in his third Rugby World Cup. Joining Redelinghuys in having played in two previous campaigns are Nico Esterhuyze, Jacques Burger, Tinus du Plessis and Eugene Jantjies.

The Welwitschias are to complete their World Rugby Nations Cup campaign this weekend against Spain before returning home to continue preparations.  In July Namibia will play host to a two-test series against Russia before taking on Zimbabwe and Kenya in the Africa Cup.

Namibia’s opening match of the World Cup will be against New Zealand in London on Thursday September 24. The Africans will also face Tonga, Georgia and Argentina.

FORWARDS
Johan Coetzee (Brive), A.J. de Klerk (Wanderers), Shaun du Preez (Wanderers), Jaco Engels (United), Raoul Larson (SWD Eagles), Johnny Redelinghuys (Wanderers), Casper Viviers (United), Rathony Becker (Western Suburbs), Shaun Esterhuizen (Wanderers), Callie Swanepoel (United), Louis van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Torsten van Jaarsveld (Cheetahs), D.G. Wiese (Wanderers), Morné Blom (Wanderers), Ulrich Engels (Wanderers), Nico Esterhuyse (Wanderers), Tjiuee Uanivi (Brive), Zana Botes (Wanderers), Renaldo Bothma (Sharks), Jacques Burger (Saracens), Wian Conradie (U of Johannesburg), Leneve Damens (Wanderers), Tinus du Plessis (Wanderers), Thomasau Forbes (Western Suburbs), Rohan Kitshoff (Western Province), Roderique Victor (Western Suburbs), Christo van der Merwe (Western Province), P.J. van Lill (Dax), Janco Venter (Maties).

BACKS
Arthur Bouwer (Wanderers), Eneill Buitendag (Wanderers), Eugene Jantjies (Dinamo Bucuresti), Damian Stevens (Western Province), Ethan Beukes (Natal), Theuns Kotzé (Bressane), Shaun Kaizemi (Western Suburbs), Daniel Arries (U of Namibia), Darryl de la Harpe (Western Suburbs), Johan Deysel (Leopards), J.C. Greyling (United), Heinrich Smit (NWU Pukke), Danie van Wyk (United), Tuna Amutenya (United), Danie Dames (Cheetahs), Conrad Marais (Béziers), David Philander (Spotswood United), Russell van Wyk (Western Suburbs), Chrysander Botha (Exeter Chiefs), Divan Rossouw (U of Pretoria), Johann Tromp (Wanderers).