Three MLR players in Namibia squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Three current Major League Rugby athletes have been selected in Namibia’s squad to prepare for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. The 35-man roster named by Allister Coetzee will train in Stellenbosch and play against Italy ‘A’ on June 24 as a warm-up to the test series.

Included are Dallas Jackals eightman Adriaan Booysen, NOLA Gold scrumhalf Damian Stevens, and Utah Warriors flyhalf Cliven Loubser. Also present is former Seattle Seawolves hooker Obert Nortjé and former Olímpia Lions forward Max Katjijeko.

Two others could yet join the group following their commitments with the New England Free Jacks. Loose forward Wian Conradie is one of Namibia’s leading international players. Le Roux Malan is currently uncapped but has proven one of the form midfielders in MLR this year.

This year’s Africa Cup will be hosted in its entirety by France. The controversial decision was made by Rugby Africa to play the tournament outside the continent, citing a desire to increase exposure for the eight teams competing. Part of the statement from the regional governing body reads:

“There was no doubt that African Members could have hosted an excellent tournament, but Rugby Africa felt that with France 2023 support there was a real opportunity to leverage the resources and expertise of the Rugby World Cup organizing committee to reach new heights and tap into new markets in a way that was never tried before in African Rugby.”

The Africa Cup will be a knock-out format that kicks off on July 1 when Namibia take on Burkina Faso in Marseille. Five days later will be the Semi Finals, with a direct place in RWC 2023 going to the winner of the Final on July 10. The runner-up will advance to November’s Repechage at a venue to be determined.

PROP
Jason Benade (UNAM)
Chemigan Beukes (Western Suburbs)
Jano Otto (United)
Desiderius Sethie (UNAM)
Herschell van Wyk (Wanderers)

HOOKER
Wicus Jacobs (Grootfontein)
Obert Nortjé (Wanderers)

SECOND ROW
Max Katjijeko (Ordizia, ES)
Adriaan Ludick (Limoges, FR)
Ruan Ludick (Pamiers, FR)
PJ van Lill (Valence Romans, FR)

BACK ROW
Adriaan Booysen (Dallas Jackals, US)
Peter Diergaardt (UNAM)
Thomasau Forbes (Wanderers)
Prince Gaoseb (UNAM)
Joshua Jacobs (Kudus)
Cameron Langenhoven (Kudus)
Johan Luttig (Grootfontein)
Oderich Mouton (UNAM)

SCRUMHALF
TC Kisting (Baia Mare, RO)
Damian Stevens (NOLA Gold, US)
Jacques Theron (Wanderers)

FLYHALF
Cliven Loubser (Utah Warriors, US)
PW Steenkamp (Orkan Sochaczew, PL)
André van der Berg (Wanderers)

CENTER
Danco Burger (Orkan Sochaczew, PL)
Johan Deysel (Colomiers, FR)
Alcino Isaacs (UNAM)
Gerswin Mouton (Wits University, SA)

OUTSIDE BACKS
JC Greyling (Wanderers)
Lesley Klim (UNAM)
Lorenzo Louis (UNAM)
Warren Ludwig (Wanderers)
Chad Plato (Ferrol, ES)
Divan Rossouw (Golden Lions, SA)