Rugby World Cup 2023: Namibia Strong RWC squad selected
THE Namibian Rugby Union has announced a strong 48-man squad in the groundwork for three upcoming matches next month as it steps up its preparations for the Namibia Strong RWC squad selected. The Windhoek Draught Welwitschias take on the South African franchise, the Windhoek Drawn from the tap Griquas in Windhoek. Rugby World Cup fans can Uruguay Vs Namibia Tickets from our website.
After that, the squad will be clipped down to 28 players who will travel to Europe for two test matches in contradiction of Spain in Madrid on 12 November, and Canada in the Netherlands a week later. Half of the team are overseas-based professionals, and half are locals who have impressed this season, and the rivalry for places is bound to hot up before the final 28-man squad for Europe is selected.
Of the foreign professionals, numerous play in South Africa for Currie Cup franchises or university teams, while some are based in Europe at recognized rugby nations like France and England, and upcoming nations like Spain, Romania, and Poland. Several companies also ply their trade in Major League Rugby in the United States.
Competition for places will be threatening with all the key positions covered by experienced and future talented players. Amongst the front row onwards, Aranos Coetzee and Louis van der Westhuizen of the Cheetahs, as well as Torsten van Jaarsveld of Bayonne in France, bring a lot of World Cup experience, while Casper Viviers of Nantes has also remained recalled after representing Namibia Strong RWC squad selected at the 2015 World Cup.
They will compete for places with some future local-based players like Chemigan Beukes, Jason Benade, Jano Otto, Nelius Theron, Herchell van Wyk and Wicus Jacobs of Grootfontein, who won the player of the contest award at the recent Windhoek Draught Franchise 10s tournament.
The lock position is also well covered with PJ van Lill, now live for Valence Romans in France, and a veteran of three world cups, leading the foreign legion which comprises Max Katjijeko of Tel Aviv Heat; Adriaan Ludick of Limoges, France; Ruan Ludick of Pamiers; and Johan Retief of Griquas. Their local rivalry comes in the form of Johan Luttig of Grootfontein and Diamanda Tjombe of Western Suburbs.
There is a lot of talent amongst the moveable forwards, including USA-based Adriaan Booysen (Dallas Jackals) and Wian Conradie (New England Free Jacks); Leader! Goose of Tel Aviv Heat, Bakkies Rossouw of Steaua Bucuresti trendy Romania, and Janco Venter of the Griquas.
They will receive tough rivalry from local players who have impressed this season like Oderich Mouton of Unam who won the backline actor of the tournament at the Windhoek Draught Franchise 10s, Cameron Langenhoven, and Joshua Jacobs of Kudus, then newcomer Darius van Solms of Wanderers.
Amongst the backs, the scrumhalf location is well covered with Damian Stevens of New Orleans Gold, USA, and Helarius Kisting of Romanian team Baia Mare, rival against upcoming locals Oela Blaauw of United and Jacques Theron of Wanderers, who captained Side Windhoek Lager to the inaugural Windhoek Draught Franchise 10s trophy previous weekend.
Johan Deysel, who led the Namibia Strong RWC squad selected at the 2015 and 2019 world cups, and plays for French club Colomiers, returns at center, along with Danco Burger of Orkan Sochaczew in Poland.
Gershwin Mouton of Wits College and Le Roux Malan of Cape Town University and the Natal Sharks, who also played for the New England Free Jacks in the USA.vThey will be combined by Divan Rossouw of the Excellent Lions in South Africa and Milan van Wyk od New Mexico Tech in the USA.
The other local-based companies’ backline players include Alcino Isaacs, Lesley Klim, Lorenzo Louis, and Darryl Wellman of Unam; Justin Newman, and Chad Plato.
and PJ Walters of Kudus; and Warren Ludwig of Wanderers. There are also robust candidates at flyhalf where national incumbents Cliven Louber of Utah Warriors (USA) and PW Steenkamp of Orkan Sochaczew in Poland, face competition after Wanderers’ talented Andre van der Berg. Rugby World Cup fans can New Zealand Vs Namibia Tickets from our website.
The Namibian fisherman who wedged the eye of Eddie Jones
.i’m hoping somebody can put this on Wikipedia!’ says Patrick Schickerling, with a laugh, as he sprawls his giant frame across binary plastic seats. The New England prop, who grew up 11 000 km away on the Namibia Strong RWC squad selected shore, wants to clear up a technicality. All I see in the commentaries section is, “How does he qualify for England? What the hell! He’s Namibian”. So let me explain.
‘When I arrived in England in 2018, the rule was that you are qualified to play after three years of residency. I moved to Exeter and went conventional on loan to Cornish Pirates. Two months later, the rule died for up to five years. I was living in the UK for three years straight and I couldn’t go home since of Covid. That’s why!’
Hailing from the seaside town of Walvis Bay, Schickerling has added his Afrikaner muscle to the ranks of English scrummaging. The tight head swapped Africa for Exeter after catching the eye of scouts at a children’s competition in Romania.
‘Walvis Bay means whale bay in Afrikaans,’ he clarifies. ‘That’s where I produced up. They call it the skeleton coast since of all the shipwrecks. We’re not very up-to-date with lighthouse technology! There are a lot of tempests and big waves. I’ve seen boats get chopped up and scrapped.
‘It was a nice place to grow up. It’s quiet and peaceful… you could nearly say it’s like Devon!
‘My dad loves fishing so I would do that every stay from the age of seven or eight. Straight out of school, pack your belongings, and off you go. We caught a few bronze whaler sharks. I caught one that was 100kg when I was 13. Somebody has to grab the tail and hope that it doesn’t turn around and bite you. It’s pretty scary!
‘I lived there my whole life. Before I enthused here I played all of my rugby back home in Namibia. From seven years old I frolicked at school, and then I played for Namibia Under 18s and Under the 20s.
‘We played in the Under 20 World Cup in Romania, I picked up an agent and they got me a contract to come straight over from university. Most Namibians think you have to get picked up in South Africa and move there, but it’s not ended until the fat lady sings!’ Now 23, Schickerling has enjoyed a rapid rise up the ranks. He has solitary played 13 Premiership games for Exeter but his powerful ball-carrying has already wedged the eye of the national team, earning him a first call-up in June.
‘My dad used to play rugby in Cape Town, for South Africa Subordinates and Western Province,’ he says. ‘Those were the days when you frolicked purely for passion.
‘I looked up to him, he’s why I ongoing playing. When people came over they would always talk about how good my dad was so I wanted to shadow in his footsteps. When I was 15, I fell in love with the gym. I was always in there when I should have been doing my homework. I pride myself on my forte and my carrying. Maybe I got some haste from him.’
Weighing in at 19th 10lb and ‘6ft tall with shoes on, Schickerling has remained game-changing for Exeter this season. Scrummaging has been his main focus for improvement, and he has had regular video appraisals with England coach Matt Proudfoot throughout the campaign. The season before last, I spent half the year splicing with the Pirates,’ he says. ‘I didn’t get much game time.
‘Last season I started every willing and thing click. You go and go and go. I hadn’t heard much from Exeter so that lacking me to go harder. I was called back by Exeter. Because of injuries and you just go and do it.
‘The scrum is always a work in development. Everything goes on in the scrums. It’s wild out there. A lot of teams capitalize on scrummaging because you get a consequence, kick to the corner and get a try. For me, getting a scrum pen is more filling than scoring a try.’When it goes well, it’s really nice. It’s like a bullfight. Who’s the better man? Especially when you know the guy across from you.
. I’m 23 so I’ve got an extended way to go in scrummaging terms. It happened quickly. There hasn’t been much time to think. You just have to make the most of your opportunities and be up to haste when you get a chance.’
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