School rugby tradition continues

The u-18 national rugby team continues to act as a vehicle for young players from local schools to showcase their talent and represent their country on an international level.
Ester Kamati
Justicia Shipena

The under-18 national rugby team is picked from all secondary schools, who have rugby as a sport code.

This includes learners who study at other secondary institutions, such as the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol), or those who are home-schooled.

Each region has trials prior to the national trials to select their regional team.

Currently there are five rugby regions and an invitational team, which caters for learners who cannot take part in regional trials.

The regional trials take place in //Karas (Karasburg, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund), Hardap (Mariental, Stampriet and Rehoboth), Khomas (Windhoek and Gobabis) Erongo (Karibib, Usakos, Khorixas, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Walvis Bay) and the northern regions (Okahandja, Outjo, Otjiwarongo, Tsumeb, Grootfontein, Oshakati and Rundu).

Each region has a representative on the schools’ rugby executive, who organises the trials in their regions during April, and each school at the regional trials has a selector.

The regional teams then take part in the national trials, where 40 players are selected, who go through an intense training camp.

After the training camp, 23 players are selected, and the others shortlisted.

According to Ainsley Daniels, the coach of the u-18 national rugby team, if one wants to be part of the team, you need to play rugby for a school team, work hard on your own conditioning and practise your skills, as well as attend the regional or invitational trials.

Daniels said the team is blessed every year with a good leadership group.

“We establish roles and responsibilities and discuss what each person brings to the table. We create goals and objectives about what we want to achieve; our aim is to leave the team in a better place,” he said.

Daniels added that to maintain skills’ knowledge and development within the team, one needs to keep your own knowledge, skills and competence up-to-date, by networking with other coaches and taking professional development courses.

“Rugby is evolving all the time and you need to keep track of all these new developments,” he said.

He said the biggest challenge in the grassroots game for the team this year was the worrying trend of the decreasing number of youngsters taking up the sport.

He said there are also boys playing against others who are bigger and older. The lack of rugby coaches at schools is also a challenge.

2019 achievements

The u-18 national rugby team took part in the SA Rugby Youth Week.

The team lost their first match against the Golden Lions 19-22 and won against Griquas 39-17 and Zimbabwe 20-15.

Sponsorship

The team secured sponsorships from Standard Bank Namibia, Phoenix Farming. Roy’s Rest Camp, XCO sport, BP Logistics, Masculm and Hydro Rubber during the season.

WJ Otto, the captain of u-18 national rugby team, said dealing with his nerves when representing your country is easier for him, as he has previously represented Namibia internationally.

“It was so much fun and it is a great honour to play rugby for your country, especially being captain and to be able to win two of the three games was such an honour,” he said.

Otto said it is extremely important to pursue sport at school level.

“There is so much more you can learn about the sport, which you will be able to use throughout your life. It is not always about winning, but about enjoying the game,” he said.