Newsletter July 2014

NEWSLETTERfrom the desk of the CEO

namibia qualifies for

rugby world cup 2015

SPECIAL EDITION

Namibia have qualied for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England after claiming the Confederation Africaine de Rugby Division 1A title in dramatic fashion in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Sunday, 6th of July 2014.

Needing to win their nal match against Madagascar by 53 points, the Welwitschias produced an inspired performance to run out 89-10 winners, claim the Africa Cup and a place alongside New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia in Pool C at England 2015.

At the beginning of a gripping day, the Namibians were outside hopefuls at best, but Zimbabwe's 28-10 win against Kenya, denying the Kenyan's a losing bonus point, while failing to secure a bonus point of their own, left the door ajar for the seasoned Rugby World Cup campaigners.

Picture: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

Zimbabwe and Kenya endured a torrid 80 minutes watching from the stands while the destiny of the Cup and the qualication place was played out in front of them as the Namibian's put on the afterburners in an utterly thrilling match. Leading 63-0 at the interval, the Namibians played with ambition, width and pace, and despite a late Madagascar ght-back, they secured an emphatic victory and qualication on a remarkable day. Number 8 Renaldo Bothma was the main beneciary of Namibia's total domination with four of his side's 13 tries - 12 of which were converted by y half Theuns Kotze. As the dust settled in Antananarivo, Zimbabwe

emerged as the team who will progress to the Repechage where they will play Russia for a place in the Repechage Final. The results also broke Kenyan hearts. Kenya looked certain to progress at least to the Repechage at the beginning of the day, having defeated Namibia earlier in the round-robin competition, but were left to rue what might have been. At the end, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya all nished on 10 points, but Namibia claimed the title by virtue of having a superior points difference (+76 compared to Zimbabwe +49 and Kenya +23).

Source: www.rugbyworldcup.com

Namibia captain Rohan Kitshof said: "It has been a remarkable day and we are so pleased to have made it to England 2015. This is for the players and coaches who believed, the fans who have given us such support, and for the people of Namibia. We go to England 2015 full of expectation and are determined to do ourselves, our nation and African Rugby proud."

CAR President Aziz Bougja pointed to the strides that African nations are making on the world stage. He said: "We have witnessed one of the most compelling, and certainly the most dramatic African Cups of recent times, which really does underscore the continued progress that our Unions are making. I would like to congratulate all the teams for their incredible performances and also congratulate Namibia, who have the honour of representing Africa at Rugby World Cup 2015."

Picture: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

congratulations from hon prime minister

dr hage geingob

The Hon PM Dr Hage Geingob hosted the Namibian National Rugby team on Wednesday at a reception at his ofce after their return from the RWC qualifying matches in Madagascar, where the team qualied in dramatic fashion for it's 5th consecutive RWC. The rst time Namibia qualied for this spectacle of world rugby, was in 1998 whereafter they participated in their very rst RWC in 1999. The brave sons of rugby has

since then been proud ambassadors of Namibia in 2003, 2007 and 2011 and will now also represent Namibia and Africa in 2015 in London. In attendance at the reception was numerous government ofcials which included: Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi; Minister of Education, David Namwandi; Minister of Information and Technology, Joel Kaapanda; and Minister of Finance, Sarah Kuugongelwa.

Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, also the patron of the NRU, called on the Namibian government and the private sector to rally together and support the national rugby team, the Welwitschias in its preparations for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Pictures: Helge Schutz

Geingob joked that he had invited the Minister of Finance to ensure that the team is budgeted for in the coming year. “I’ve brought the Minister of Finance along today. They will prepare the budget in October and the Sport Ministry must put you in their budget,” he said.

He congratulated the team on qualifying for the World Cup and said they would now need the support of the nation. “I’m appealing to the government and the private sector, they must really step up now and we are going to approach this together, all of us. We must broaden the base and deliver quality rugby,” he said. Geingob said it was a great honour for Namibia to qualify for the World Cup, but that it was now time to start winning. “You have to be proactive now. You are p l a y i n g t h e w o r l d champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia but we are from the land of the brave. You must not go there just to

participate, you must go to compete and win at least one game,” he said.

“We have qualied for four World Cups and I was at three of them. Now you have qualied for your fth World Cup. That’s a great honour for

our country, but now we must also play to win. You can only do that if you get the support from all of us,” he said. The president of the Namibia Rugby Union, Bradley Basson thanked Geingob for the reception and promised that Namibia would shock the world at the World Cup. “It’s a great privilege for us to be here. We will have a huge task when we play the All Blacks but we have seen that nothing is impossible and we must go to be victorious. This team showed exceptional character against Madagascar and if we play like that we can shock the world,” he said.

Parts of the article sourced from the Namibian Newspaper

Picture: Helge Schutz

Picture: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS ...

Pictures: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS ...

Pictures: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE OF RWC ...

Pictures: Andrew Poolman, Republikein

HOME SWEET HOMEVictorious Welwitschias arrive home!

NAMIBIA'S national rugby team, the Welwitschias, arrived in Windhoek on the 8th of July 2014 to a heroes welcome.

About 50 family, friends and fans gave them an enthusiastic welcome at Hosea Kutako International Airport.

The president of the Namibia Rugby Union, Bradley Basson, gave a welcoming speech during which he vowed that Namibia would shock the world at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He also read a speech on behalf of Prime M i n i s t e r H a g e G e i n g o b i n w h i c h h e congratulated the team on qualifying for the World Cup.

The team then had a Victory Parade through the streets of Windhoek with Kosmos 94.1 with entertainment at the radio station afterwards.

Source: The Namibian

Trip Travel is the ofcial representative of SA Rugby Travel. They offer the same packages and same rates, which can be seen at www.sarugbytravel.com

Contact them for further information or bookings, to travel as supporters to the RWC and support our boys.

Namibian xtures at RWC 2015:

20:00 - 24/09/2015 - Namibia vs New Zealand (Wembley Stadium) 16:45 - 29/09/2015 - Namibia vs Tonga (Sandy Park) 20:00 - 07/10/2015 - Namibia vs Georgia (Sandy Park) 12:00 - 11/10/2015 - Namibia vs Argentina (Leicester City Stadium)

Welwitchia Supporters Song - Single Zirk Jansen

Open iTunes to preview, buy and download music.

FOR NAMIBIAN SUPPORTERS

NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES

SUPPORTERS JERSEYS

Sizes to t the whole family

Contact: 061 251717 or [email protected]

Available from the

NRU ofces

@ N$400 each

TRAVEL PLANS

FANATICAL FANS

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s Namibia...well done f o r b e l i e v i n g i n yourself and did on the end. Well done Danie and his team!!

Congratz Biltong Boere...!!!

Well done guys!!!!! Very proud

Namibian..... World cup 2015 here we

come!!!!

Mooi so Namibie. Bou so voort. Geluk aan die afrigters ,

bestuur en die SPELERS!!

Never doubted that you would make it. Congratz the hard work ofcialy starts

now.

nice one guys.all the best going forward. i

just hope the sponsors see to which sport code

the money must go.

Well done Namibia. Walter Don ek’s trots op jou. Thanks to all the boys and coaches

and rest of the team. A bigger thank you to the wives,

girlfriends and parents for your continued support. Thank

you Namibia for supporting Namibian rugby.

Nou beter die All Blacks oppasFantastiese game! Well done Danie Vermeulen en jou

manne. Julle is ysters!

Well done fellow Namibians! I love

namibian rugby!

Exiting times ahead for Namibia rugby!

Sooooooo maak mens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So proud to be Namibian. Doing the happy dance. ..

Congratulations Namibia you will have 4 of us from

Essex UK going to be cheering you on against the

All Blacks at RWC 2015

You guys made my weekend!!! Kan nie wag vir volgende jaar nie. Is hard work from now till

then!!! Dankie